Ex-Pasadena Resident Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding IRS

PASADENA, CA -- A former Pasadena resident was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison on Monday for defrauding the Internal Revenue Service out of more than $150,000 by submitting fraudulent federal income tax returns that used the stolen personal identifying information of more than 60 people.

The woman, Bridgette Charmine Potts, 53, was also ordered by U.S. District Judge John F. Walter to pay $159,377 in restitution to the IRS, according to its criminal investigation division.

According to court documents, between 2014 and 2016, Potts knowingly submitted fraudulent tax returns to the IRS using the stolen personal identifying information of 63 people. The returns, which falsely represented that the victims had filed them, caused the IRS to issue the fraudulent refunds, which were unknowingly wired to bank accounts which she controlled.

Potts pleaded guilty in January to one count of wire fraud.

City News Service contributed to this report.