Town of Benton Resident Kathy Richard Arraigned on Five Counts of Fraudulent Claim for Tax Credit

DARLINGTON – Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced that on May 11, 2011, Town of Benton resident Kathy Richard appeared before Judge Thomas J. Vale. Ms. Richard waived her right to a preliminary hearing and was arraigned on five counts of tax fraud. The case has been calendared for August 17, 2011, for further proceedings.

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.

A criminal complaint is a document that alleges that a crime was committed by a person or a corporation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The charges are the result of an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice - Division of Criminal Investigation, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, and the United States Office of the Inspector General. Assistant Attorney General Eric D. Défort represents the State of Wisconsin as the special prosecutor.

A copy of the criminal complaint is available at: