According to court documents, Savage, during income tax years 2007 through 2011, participated in the scheme relative to filing false claims for tax refunds for his jail mates serving prison terms.
In an effort to convince the inmates they were entitled to an income tax refund, Savage said the money was “free money,” a result of “stimulus money” provided by the president of the United States, as well as money from back taxes.
FIRST REPORT (Oct. 31)
A Springfield man serving time in state prison has pleaded guilty in federal court to filing false claims for income tax refunds for other inmates.
James Jeremy Savage, 40, filed at least 99 false claims for income tax refunds with the IRS totaling at least $148,307.04, investigators said.
Originally from Springfield, Savage was serving time at prisons in Warren and Madison counties when he committed the tax fraud, according to the Ohio Department of Justice.
“The object of this refund fraud scheme was to swindle the government and the taxpaying public, said Kathy A. Enstrom, IRS Criminal Investigation special agent.
The inmates Savage prepared income tax returns for had not worked and in some cases had been incarcerated for multiple years, according to the Ohio Department of Justice.
The indictment, filed Wednesday, details the charges against Savage.
“James Savage knowingly made and presented … claims against the United States for payment, which he knew to be false, fictitious and fraudulent,” according to U.S. District Court documents.
Savage is serving a year and nine months at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution stemming from a Clark County forgery case, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
In the new conviction, Savage faces a maximum of an additional five years and a possible $250,000 fine.
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