BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor
A Tampa woman sentenced to 9 years in federal prison was granted early release last Thursday. The motion filed stated that she is battling terminal cancer.
According to court documents, Ms. Shawntrece Sims, 33, was diagnosed with cancer in August. An MRI determined that the cancer had metastasized to her bones. Ms. Sims has a life expectancy of less than a year.
Ms. Sims drew public attention after an arrest in the “Operation Rainmaker” case in 2011. She was one of 49 people arrested by a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement task force.
According to the U. S. Attorney’s Office Middle District of Florida, Ms. Sims was on bond awaiting sentencing when she was arrested again on similar charges. Ms. Sims was arrested on August 11, 2011.
According to court documents filed by the U. S. Attorney’s Office, Ms. Sims signed a plea agreement on previous charges on February 14th. She appeared before U. S. Magistrate Judge Thomas G. Wilson on March 17th and pleaded guilty to one count of making a false claim and one count of mail fraud.
During the court appearance, Ms. Sims admitted to preparing and electronically filing false income tax returns, which totaled $263,004.00 in 2008.
While released from jail on bond, Ms. Sims was involved in the filing of numerous false tax returns during the first half of 2011. She allegedly received $409,883.00 in fraudulent refunds from the Internal Revenue Service this year, the document stated.
Between January 29th and May 2011, Ms. Sims and other defendants are accused of filing 52 fraudulent tax returns. Ms. Sims is alleged to have filed multiple false claims on behalf of 7 deceased people all with the same last name two days after she signed the plea agreement.
Tubal Ligation Reversal
According to the court documents, Ms. Sims allegedly used money obtained by fraudulent means for a medical procedure. She allegedly attempted to become pregnant prior to sentencing.
