Three Southern Californians were arrested and charged with tax refund fraud over a two-day period during a sweep by Franchise Tax Board (FTB) investigators, according to the FTB.
Arrested were Olivia L. Thompson, 29, of Van Nuys, Buddy Miles (AKA Darryl G. Himes), 35, of Carson, and Kwasi Chris Miller, 29, of Palmdale. The three cases are unrelated, but are part of FTB's continuing pursuit of tax fraud.
Each individual faces felony counts including filing of false state income tax returns and grand theft in connection with fraudulent tax refunds. Each felony tax count carries a maximum of three years in state prison.
All are charged with using false W-2s to obtain fraudulent state income tax refunds from their 2001 income tax returns. The total amount of fraudulent refunds claimed was for more than $6,800. The fraud was discovered by FTB's internal fraud detection procedures.
FTB investigators arrested the suspects without incident. Miles is currently free on bond. His next scheduled court appearance is December 26 in Division 30 of the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. Thompson is currently free on $20,000 bail. Her preliminary hearing was postponed until December 24 in the Van Nuys Courthouse West. Miller's preliminary court appearance is scheduled for Monday in the Michael D. Antovovich Antelope Valley Courthouse in Lancaster.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office is prosecuting the cases.