A forty-year-old woman was sentenced to three years in federal prison for her role in conspiring to commit tax fraud. She pled guilty to the charges in June.

According to the U. S. Attorney’s Office, Ms. Jacqueline Ferreira conspired with an inmate at the Union Correctional Institution in Raiford and others, to defraud the government by submitting false tax returns. As part of the conspiracy, Ms. Ferreira opened at least ten bank accounts in the Tampa Bay area.

Prisoners and others completed income tax returns and the refunds were deposited into the accounts. During a pre-arranged agreement, Ms. Ferreira reportedly took 50% and the others would divide the other 50% of the money, police said.

With the illegal proceeds, which she accessed through various cash withdrawals from her multiple bank accounts, Ms. Ferreira purchased vehicles, furniture, and other items.

During the investigation, police discovered that more than 350 false tax returns were filed with electronic deposits made into accounts she maintained. The fraudulent returns were in excess of $3 million. However, only $443,711.92 in tax refunds were deposited into Ms. Ferreira’s accounts, police said.

Ms. Ferreira was sentenced to 3 years and 1 month in federal prison.