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One Chicago Woman Apparently Felt That 293 False Tax Returns Was Not Enough

You have to wonder how efficient both the IRS and Social Security systems are in this country if one person can file fake claims for 3 years before finally getting busted.

According to the Chicago Tribune, 35 year old Zorana Theresa Charleston-Black filed 293 false tax returns between 2005 and 2008 for refunds the amount of $403,697. Oddly, $404,000 over a period of three years was not enough for Charleston-Black, who also used a stolen identity to collect $25,000 in Social Security retirement and survivors' benefits she was not entitled to. Talk about jumping the gun; anyone my age would be stupid to believe Social Security will be around by the time we're actually ready to retire but that doesn't mean getting a jump on that using someone else's identity is a good idea.

Charleston-Black was arrested Tuesday and faces the judge on Friday.

The federal indictment alleges that Charleston-Black – who also goes by the nickname "T" – borrowed the identities of 20 residents of Illinois and filed fraudulent tax returns to claim refunds ranging from $2,454 to $12,389. At least 200 of the returns included false information for wages, income tax withholding and business expenses.

This begs the question… can she deduct her lawyer fees as a business expense on her 2012 return from prison next year?