Town of Benton Resident Kathy Richard Sentenced on Three Counts of Felony Tax Fraud

MADISON — Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that Town of Benton resident Kathy Richard was sentenced by Judge Thomas J. Vale on charges of fraudulent claims for tax credit. Richard was sentenced to 60 days of incarceration in the Lafayette County Jail and three years of probation with restitution.

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: