ALABAMA — A former bank teller who used her position to open banks accounts in other people’s names to receive electronic fraudulent tax refunds was sentenced to a year and nine months behind bars, federal prosecutors said today.
LaQuanta Clayton, a resident of Montgomery County, Ala., and a former bank teller employed by the Community Bank and Trust, was sentenced Wednesday after she pleaded guilty last year to theft of government property.
Tarrish Tellis, the leader of the tax-fraud ring, told Clayton to open multiple bank accounts in order to receive electronic deposits of fraudulent tax refunds.
About $452,225 in fraudulent tax refunds were directed to be deposited, authorities said.
The IRS paid about $185,730 in fraudulent refunds, which were deposited into accounts Clayton opened and controlled.
Clayton was also ordered to pay restitution in this amount.