US Jury Indicts Missouri Man For Tax Fraud By Claiming Fake Dependents

The U.S. Grand Jury has indicted a Missouri man over tax fraud after finding that he used Craiglist for searching children who can be his dependents. The jury charged Raheem McClain of three counts of filing false tax returns in Springfield, Missouri.

McClain allegedly used the website Craiglist to find three kids that he can claim as dependent in his filing. According to Yahoo, the man allegedly posted advertising in Craiglist to look for three children he used for his tax return filing in exchange for payments. McClain was charged of tax fraud last month, but it remained sealed until his first trial appearance on Tuesday.

McClain's ad in Craiglist reads, "Wanted: Kids to claim on income taxes. If you have some kids you aren't claiming, I will pay you $750 each to claim them on my return." It was posted in Jan. 2015.

Pantagraph reported that McClain filed false tax returns for years covering 2012, 2013 and 2014 in Feb. 2015. He indicated three dependents on the returns. McClain's tax fraud was discovered when the jury found inconsistencies on the former's statement that the children were his sons or daughters.  Prosecutors claimed that when he filed tax returns for 2014, he listed a daughter and two sons. The next day, when he filed for 2012 and 2013 tax returns, he indicated two daughters and a son.

McClain's tax fraud case follows another tax case in the state wherein three women were charged last week over a $300,000 tax fraud conspiracy. Nancy Walker, Carolyn Cobb, and Clementine Lockett were indicted 25 counts for using other people's names and social security numbers to file fake tax returns. After filing the tax returns, they keep the tax returns' refunds. Cobb and Lockett were arrested while Walker remains at large, News Leader reports.

McClain didn't enter a plea and was discharged on a bail over the tax fraud case. Each of the charge against the offender holds a maximum penalty of three years sentences and a fine of up to $250,000. 

Tags

Tax Fraud, tax fraud case, Missouri tax fraud, Craiglist, False Tax Returns

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