Last week, three members of the same family pleaded guilty in federal court to cashing IRS checks and drug dealing. The defendants entered their pleas on Tuesday, October 4, and Friday, October 7, respectively.

Tarranzton Barr, 36, entered a guilty plea to conspiring with other persons to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine on October 4th.

His cousin, Patrick Shaw, 32, entered a plea on October 7th. Both men are facing a mandatory minimum term of 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $8,000,000 in fines, at least 8 years of supervision after being released from jail, and a special assessment of $100 per felony count.

According to court documents, on May 2, 2011, Barr’s cousin, Patrick Shaw, 32, contacted a cooperating witness (CWI) “seeking assistance in cashing fraudulently-obtained U. S. Treasury checks that Shaw had in his possession.”

Patrick Shaw

The witness met with Shaw at the direction of law enforcement, two other cooperating witnesses, and Barr, at Shaw’s place of business. During the meeting, it was agreed that the checks would be exchanged for cocaine and it was agreed that the witness would provide Shaw and Barr with ½ kilogram of cocaine for approximately $24,000 in checks, court documents stated.

Shaw and Barr negotiated with the witness for exchange of $39,500 worth of checks for one kilogram of cocaine, to which the witness agreed. Shaw left the meeting and the witness provided one kilogram of “sham cocaine” to Barr. The witnesses left the area and Barr was arrested. He admitted to his role, and said that he and Shaw intended to purchase the cocaine.

Pleads Guilty To Filing $126,000 Fraudulent  Tax Claims
According to the court documents, beginning in 2006, Ms. Patricia Shaw, 35, who is Shaw’s sister and Barr’s cousin, agreed with at least two other individuals to engage in a scheme to defraud the U. S. government. Ms. Shaw and her co-conspirators obtained personal information about individuals, including social security numbers, and used the information to file dozens of false income tax returns.

Patricia Shaw

In some cases, the individuals were unaware tax returns had been filed on their behalf. In some instances, the individuals willingly provided the information in exchange for a fee.

Law enforcement has identified fraudulent tax returns filed by Ms. Shaw that totaled more than $126,000.

Ms. Shaw pleaded guilty to one count of making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent claim. She is facing up to 5 years in prison, a fine of at least $250,000, 3 years of supervision after being released from jail, and a special assessment of $100.

Sentencing dates the three has not been released.

City Editor Iris B. Holton can be contacted at (813) 248-1921; or emailed at iholton@flsentinel.com.