11 Midlands Residents Arrested in Statewide Tax Evasion Case

A statewide investigation into state income tax returns have resulted in the arrest of 18 people, South Carolina Department of Revenue officials announced Friday.

Officials said 18 people filed W4 forms with their employers claiming to be exempt from taxation, which caused little to no taxes to be withheld from their paychecks. 

Those employees also failed to file tax returns for multiple years, according to the department. 

The individuals collectively earned more than $6 million and have a collective state tax liability of nearly $285,000, officials said. 

The following individuals were arrested (Columbia area residents in bold): 

• Meioki Figueroa, Columbia; five counts; $27,898 of tax evaded
• Cedora Vinson, West Columbia; five counts; $21,282 of tax evaded
• Hugh Coleman, Columbia; seven counts; $20,255 of tax evaded
• Lakeesha Murray, Columbia; five counts; $18,891 of tax evaded
• Denise Tyler, Columbia; four counts; $17,684 of tax evaded
• William Edwards, Columbia; five counts; $16,674 of tax evaded
• Lisa Jenkins, Columbia; seven counts: $14,999 of tax evaded
• Cassandra Johnson, Columbia; eight counts; $13,635 of tax evaded
• Keith Mangle, Piedmont; seven counts; $13,349 of tax evaded
• Juanita Brown, Columbia; five counts; $13,346 of tax evaded
• Alphonso Blassingame, Boiling Springs, six counts; $12,718 of tax evaded
• Thomas Smith, Columbia; five counts; $12,674 of tax evaded
• Victoria Cooper-Hilliard, Goose Creek; six counts; $12,419 of tax evaded
• Devita Gray, Piedmont; five counts; $12,085 of tax evaded
• Rebecca Mulinix, Columbia; seven counts; $11,768 of tax evaded
• Gregory Neff, Summerville; three counts; $11,371 of tax evaded
• Denise Murry, Greer; five counts; $10,452 of tax evaded
• Billy Tolbert, Greenville; seven counts; $10,084 of tax evaded

Each charge of tax evasion carries a possible sentence of up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.  

Officials said the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected.