DEKALB COUNTY, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
A former Georgia Department of Revenue employee and 14 co-defendants were indicted for a $200,000 income tax fraud scheme on Thursday.
The co-conspirators are former DOR employee Kaiesha Ash, David H. Pitts, Kedrick Lacey, Nicole D. Calhoun, Leonard Harvey Jr., Rochelle Hunter, Chandra Long, Justin C. Clark, Sochie Jordan, Nykea Williams, Lloyd Burkes, Kenneth Sheriff, Olivetti Key and Tomichi A. Lee.
A DeKalb County grand jury charged them with one count each of violation of the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
Together, the co-conspirators stole approximately $200,000 from the state of Georgia by way of illegal tax refunds, according to court records.
Reports said Naterica Burkes came up with a scheme to steal money from the state of Georgia by creating fraudulent accounts in DOR's computer system and issuing tax refund checks, to herself, former colleagues, family members, friends and associates.
Burkes and her co-conspirators would deposit refund checks into personal bank accounts or cash them at local businesses and then divvy up the proceeds.
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