Investigators Arrest 10 in Tax Refund Scheme

Richland County's Financial Crimes Unit investigators arrested 10 suspects and are looking for eight more in connection with a tax refund scam operation.

Investigators say in 2012 a tax preparer at M&M Tax Service falsified W-2 forms for people she recruited by claiming those people made between $19,000 and $25,000 during the year 2011. 

By falsifying the forms, police say people were able to receive a 2012 tax refund between $5,000 and $9,000.

The tax preparer was identified as 30-year-old Quasheda Parker also known as Quasheda V. Jacobs.

Investigators contacted all the employers listed on the fraudulent W-2 forms and obtained documentation from those businesses that verified the suspects did not work for the companies listed, according to a release. 

In some cases, a suspect did work for the company but their 2011 gross wage was far below what the fake W-2 showed, the release said. 

The following people were arrested on forgery charges:

• Shamika Norris, 31
• Zoe Albert, 22
• Cassandra Samuels, 30
• Ashley White, 22
• Jamey Shiver, 32
• Lolitta M. McMichaels, 35
• Robin Norris, 55
• Kevin Kitt, 32
• Candace Brown, 22
• Jimmy Dale Buckley, 25

Investigators are looking for the following people on charges of foregery:

• Jamie R Radden, 23
• Quasheda V Parker, 30 (seven counts)  
• Kevin Richardson, 33
• Lakeisha Y Norris, 42
• Stephen L Parker
• Kiewan T Shiver, 30
• Tonya Scott, 42
• Aaron D Benjamin, 43

Anyone with information about the tax scam should call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.

If anyone has been a victim of a scam, contact the Richland County Sheriff's Department’s Financial Crimes Unit at 803-576- 3063.