A couple were able to collect nearly $6 million for made-up trusts using names that often invoke the Holy Scripture and even the Heaven’s Gate cult.
They submitted 227 false tax refund claims over the period of 10 years for billions of dollars. Most of the claims were rejected but nine actually resulted in the IRS paying out nearly $6 million dollars. They used this money to buy homes and cars.
The IRS tried to stop them beginning in 2017 but they were still able to make purchases. Prosecutors eventually brought criminal charges against the couple for mail fraud and conspiring to defraud the government. They also arrested husband for having child pornography on his phone.
Court filings personally created by the husband argued that the government had no authority over him and used language consistent with the sovereign system movement. The husband pled guilty in Florida to tax fraud and now facing 30 years in prison. He will also be sentenced in July for having pled guilty to child pornography charges in July. Charges against his wife are still pending.
You can read more about the case here.