Town of Benton Resident Kathy Richard Convicted of Three Counts of Felony Tax Fraud

DARLINGTON – Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced that on August 17, 2011, Town of Benton resident Kathy Richard appeared before Judge Thomas J. Vale where she pled guilty to three counts of fraudulent claims for tax credit. Each count is a Class H Felony carrying a maximum penalty of six years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. At the hearing, Ms. Richard agreed to the facts in the criminal complaint as the factual basis for her crimes. The court ordered that the Department of Corrections is to undertake a presentence investigation for the purpose of sentencing. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 9, 2011.

According to the criminal complaint, Ms. Richard submitted fraudulent Earned Income Tax Credit Claims to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. In each of the claims, Ms. Richard claimed to own and operate a fictitious daycare business. She obtained $7,979.00 by defrauding the State Department of Revenue. She also obtained $12,165.00 by filing similar claims with the federal government.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Eric D. Défort. The case was investigated by Wisconsin Department of Justice - Division of Criminal Investigation, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, and the United States Office of the Inspector General.

A copy of the criminal complaint is available at: