#RSS Home [bp.specificclick.net?pixid=99004176] [rss_logo_new.png] Chicago Breaking News * Powered By * [wgntv_new.png] * [cltv_new.png] * [wgnradio_new.png] * [ct.com_new.png] in Chicago Current Weather ____________________ Go Get weather alerts Get traffic alerts [radar_overlay.gif] [EMBED] Find a story: ____________________ Search * Neighborhood News Pages * Breaking News Video * Live WGN radio * Chicago Breaking Sports More Breaking News: previous Girl expelled for setting boy's hair on fire... ID theft scam: 2 accused of stealing $289K in tax refunds March 23, 2010 11:15 AM | 10 Comments | UPDATED STORY IDtheft2.jpg Two women pocketed nearly $300,000 in state and federal tax returns after stealing the identities of more than 60 customers of an Indiana H & R Block branch, federal prosecutors say. The alleged scheme was uncovered after Rosetta Buchanan, 35, and Francesca Foster, 32 -- an H & R Block worker -- were stopped last week in Highland, Ind. on suspicion of drunken driving, according to police and court records. Highland police searched the vehicle and found more than 100 debit cards issued in other peoples' names, lists of Social Security numbers, and H & R Block client information sheets, according to a criminal complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Hammond, Ind. When officers asked Foster if the documents were related to identity theft, "Foster dropped her head and advised, 'Yes, it is,'" according to the complaint. Foster worked as a tax preparer at an East Chicago H & R Block office, where she printed out client information, including names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers, the complaint states. Fraudulent tax returns were then filed in the names of the clients between January and March this year, the complaint alleges. The refunds were electronically sent to bank accounts set up by the two, according to the complaint. IRS agents said they have so far found 17 accounts with deposits totaling $289,870,64. The two remain in temporary custody and are expected to appear in a Hammond court room Wednesday for a probable cause hearing, said Mary Hatton, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's office. -- Serena Daniels Click here to sign up for breaking news, business and sports alerts. Share this story: * Twitter * Facebook * Email Categories: * Updated Tags: * crime, * East Chicago, * Indiana 10 Comments last white guy on March 23, 2010 8:12 AM Good idea.......no one will ever catch on to your brilliant plan. Vic on March 23, 2010 8:59 AM Identity theft should be punishable by death just like horse theives used to be. Hmmmm on March 23, 2010 10:21 AM Punish them. Punish them. jeff s on March 23, 2010 10:28 AM this country is turning into a nightmare circus. This is high hilarity really. Lets all just work all day and hand our checks to crooks or politcians..... tim on March 23, 2010 10:36 AM These two could use a good crotch punch to set them back on the straight and narrow. James on March 23, 2010 10:49 AM I hope you ladies know that people where depending on their returns to put food on the table. Shame on H&R Block for letting this happen! H&R Block should pay every cent back to the people that were stolen from. H&R Block is completely responsible for this. Alex60/s on March 23, 2010 10:54 AM You should not drink and drive. Bad things happen! HandleIt on March 23, 2010 10:54 AM (CHANTING) DONKEY PUNCH, DONKEY PUNCH! CaptAhab on March 23, 2010 11:15 AM This puts a whole new spin on H&R Block's " I got people " claim. Yeah that's it "I got people" Wicker Park Libertarian on March 23, 2010 11:16 AM And we are going to have more of these cases, now that ACORN is dissolving. 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