Prisoner And 3 Others Indicated in Tax Fraud Scheme

      United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that Thomas Joseph Dalton, age 50, a federal inmate at the Bennettsville federal prison at the time of his alleged involvement in the crimes charged; Randall Lewis Smith, age 50, of Summerville, Georgia M. Adams, age 55, of Harleyville, and Misha Danyell Cleckley, age 33, of Orangeburg, were charged in a 34-count Indictment with participating in a scheme in which false tax returns were submitted to the Internal Revenue Service for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining refunds. 

      The Indictment alleges that the false tax returns were submitted to the IRS in the names of members of the conspiracy as well as the names of other persons, some of whom were not aware their identities were being used.  Refunds totaling approximately $1.4 million were requested, and over $415,000 in refunds were issued before the scheme was detected. 

      Dalton is charged with submitting 27 false income tax returns, theft of government funds, conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft.

      Smith, Adams, and Cleckley are all charged with conspiracy.  Adams is also charged with three counts of false claims, and Cleckley is charged with one false claim count. 

      The maximum penalties are as follows:

      Conspiracy – 10 years imprisonment and $250,000 fine;

      False Claim – 5 years imprisonment and $250,000 fine;

      Theft of Government Funds – 10 years imprisonment and$250,000 fine;

      Aggravated Identify Theft – Two years imprisonment consecutive to any other penalty and $250,000 fine.

      Mr. Wilkins stated that the case was investigated by agents of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigative Division, and that he has assigned the case to Assistant United States Attorney Dean A. Eichelberger of the Columbia office for prosecution.

      The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this Indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.