A mother of three, who taunted
authorities to catch her as she stole about $20 million from the IRS, has been
jailed for 21 years.
Rashia Wilson, who pleaded guilty to
wire fraud and aggravated identity theft earlier this year, admitted to
stealing more than $3 million but the figure is believed to be much higher.
Tampa police were first alerted to
the fraud in 2010 when they noticed a drop in drug dealing in the area.
As Wilson, who became known as the 'First Lady of tax fraud' was sentenced on Tuesday, she was denied the chance to hug her three children, aged between 2 and 12, good-bye, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
'She knew what she was doing was
wrong. She reveled in the fact that it was wrong,' U.S. District Judge
James. S. Moody Jr. said.
The 27-year-old, who also pleaded
guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, had boasted on Facebook
that she was untouchable.
'I'm Rashia, the queen of IRS tax fraud,' the post stated. 'I'm a millionaire for the record, so if U think indicting me will B easy it won't, I promise you! U need more than black and white to hold me down N that's to da rat who went N told, as if 1st lady don't have da TPD under her spell. I run Tampa right now.'
A psychologist brought in to testify
for the defense argued the Facebook post was a sign of Wilson's bi-polar
disorder, which made her liable to brag.
Valerie McClain told the court that
'adolescent bragging' in Facebook posts is consistent with manic-phase
behavior. Wilson had bi-polar diagnosed when she was 14.
Wilson's fraud was discovered during
a two-year investigation called 'Operation Rain Maker', named in reference to
all the money raining down on the suspects' mail boxes, according to ABC News.
The multi-agency investigation
included Tampa Police Department, IRS-Criminal Investigations, the Secret
Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Hillsborough County
Sheriff's Office.
Those involved in the tax fraud
operation used stolen Social Security numbers to file returns, according to the
Global Dispatch.
The scam meant that ordinary
taxpayers had to wait for up to a year to receive their refunds.
Wilson, whose mother was addicted to
cocaine when she was born, and whose father was in prison while she was growing
up, came from a life of poverty to extreme wealth.
Although she still claimed food stamps during her fraud, she used the ill-gotten gains to fund a lavish lifestyle which included spending $30,000 on her son's first birthday, buying a $90,000 Audi and designer handbags and sunglasses.
Wilson also had a custom-designed
necklace, spelling out her name in jewels, made for her, according to Fox News.
As well as finding designer goods at
her home in Wimauma, police said the number of security cameras around the
property had raised suspicions.
Wilson has been ordered to $3.1
million in restitution.
The amount reflects the estimated
loss to the government at the time of her plea. The investigation later found
the figure to be higher but the judge agreed to honor the plea agreement.
She will owe the restitution with
co-defendant Maurice Larry, who has sentencing hearings due in August and
September.
HOW
WILSON SPENT HER MILLIONS
$90,000 on an Audi A8.
$30,000 on her son's first birthday
party, which included carnival rides for children to play on.
Designer handbags from Prada, Gucci
and Louis Vuitton.
Jewellery, including a custom-made
necklace spelling out her name in jewels, which she wore in a photograph that
showed her posing with stacks of money.
When police searched her Wimauma
home they removed electronic goods, including large flat-screen TVs.
At the time of the investigation, 13
people were arrested for charges including identity theft, scheming to defraud
and fraudulent use of credit cards, according to reports.
Tampa police major Ken Morman told
ABC last year that a decline in drug dealing suggested criminals had found a
more lucrative business.
He said the suspects would use hotel
rooms and rented houses to train recruits about how to commit the fraud.
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