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D.C. Tax Scandal At $44.3 Million, Analysis Finds (Largest Corruption Scandal in DC History)
The Washington Post ^ | December 2, 2007 | Carol D. Leonnig and Dan Keating

Posted on 12/04/2007 9:10:24 PM PST by khnyny

The D.C. government issued more than $44 million in questionable property tax refunds in the past nine years -- more than double the amount that prosecutors have declared to be missing in a massive theft of city money.

A Washington Post analysis of city records identified 160 checks since June 1999 that lacked the court orders that are required for legitimate refunds. The review provides the clearest picture to date of how the alleged tax scam evolved over the years, apparently circumventing internal controls.

Prosecutors have said that Harriette Walters, a mid-level manager at the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue, approved illegal refunds and shared the wealth with family members and associates. She and five others face federal charges in the case. Meanwhile, the size and duration of the alleged thievery has Congress, council members and many taxpayers questioning why no city officials caught it.

New information from the city's chief financial officer indicates that at least two and as many as four top leaders of the D.C. tax office, including its director, should have personally reviewed the refunds before they were issued. The payments examined by The Post were to fictitious companies or to firms that did not own the properties listed on refund documents.

Federal authorities are examining the same kinds of records scrutinized by The Post and acknowledge they are still trying to determine the depth of the loss. They have publicly flagged 58 checks as fraudulent, totaling $20 million, and warned that losses could mount as the probe continues.

Officials at the U.S. attorney's office in the District, which is leading the investigation, declined to comment...

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dc; dcsucks; taxscanm
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DC really is a cesspool.
1 posted on 12/04/2007 9:10:30 PM PST by khnyny
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To: khnyny
Meanwhile, the size and duration of the alleged thievery has Congress, council members and many taxpayers questioning why no city officials caught it.

Ahh, perhaps they were all in on it???

2 posted on 12/04/2007 9:15:23 PM PST by Zuben Elgenubi
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To: khnyny

Link to Harriette Walters Democrat contributions:

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?city=Washington&st=DC&last=walters&first=Harriette


3 posted on 12/04/2007 9:16:26 PM PST by Brad from Tennessee ("A politician can't give you anything he hasn't first stolen from you.")
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To: khnyny
The D.C. government issued more than $44 million in questionable property tax refunds in the past nine years -- more than double the amount that prosecutors have declared to be missing in a massive theft of city money.

Ummm, D.C. government's just a bunch of dems, right?

4 posted on 12/04/2007 9:19:40 PM PST by GOPJ ("Imagine the Outrage if FOX had Fixed a “debate” like this??" Freeper bray -- "CNN Sucks" - GOPJ)
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To: Brad from Tennessee
Considering her job related windfall you'd think she could have coughed up a bit more contribution money
5 posted on 12/04/2007 9:20:28 PM PST by CaptainK (...please make it stop. Shake a can of pennies at it.)
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To: GOPJ
Ummm, D.C. government's just a bunch of dems, right?

Oh, yes. (shudders)
6 posted on 12/04/2007 9:23:28 PM PST by khnyny (Although prepared for martyrdom, I preferred that it be postponed. Winston Churchill)
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To: CaptainK

She had various relatives and friends cashing the checks, so I’m sure she was generous in the same way Mr. Hsu was.


7 posted on 12/04/2007 9:24:26 PM PST by VanShuyten ("The pilgrims had opened with their Winchesters, and were simply squirting lead into that bush")
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To: CaptainK; Brad from Tennessee
Considering her job related windfall you'd think she could have coughed up a bit more contribution money

LOL. My first thought exactly. I guess Walter's was too busy at Neimann Marcus.
8 posted on 12/04/2007 9:26:27 PM PST by khnyny (Although prepared for martyrdom, I preferred that it be postponed. Winston Churchill)
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To: khnyny

What do you expect from people that re-elect a coke snortin mayor. And people want to allow them to have guns?


9 posted on 12/04/2007 9:29:47 PM PST by RC2
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To: khnyny
There is quite a growing list of dimocRAT controlled cities with major problems. Let’s not leave out Philadelphia, Detroit and New Orleans. The list could go on.
10 posted on 12/04/2007 9:30:43 PM PST by Parley Baer
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To: khnyny

I wonder if she put money in the collection plate.


11 posted on 12/04/2007 9:33:20 PM PST by CaptainK (...please make it stop. Shake a can of pennies at it.)
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To: khnyny
160 checks since June 1999

During which time the Democrats successfully labeled the Republicans as "the party of corruption."

We really, really need to fight on this issue. Corruption is mother's milk to the Democrat Party.

12 posted on 12/04/2007 9:34:33 PM PST by denydenydeny (Expel the priest and you don't inaugurate the age of reason, you get the witch doctor--Paul Johnson)
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To: khnyny

Yea, you’d think the Mayor was a crack head or something....


13 posted on 12/04/2007 9:37:43 PM PST by taxed2death (A few billion here, a few trillion there...we're all friends right?)
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To: khnyny; CaptainK
There’s no doubt this thing is bigger than it now appears. Ms. Walters will probably implicate a lot more D.C. officials. It may go all the way to the mayor’s office.
14 posted on 12/04/2007 9:46:52 PM PST by Brad from Tennessee ("A politician can't give you anything he hasn't first stolen from you.")
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To: khnyny

Democrat culture of corruption BUMP


15 posted on 12/04/2007 9:53:32 PM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: khnyny

DC is run by libs, right? No wonder it’s so corrupt.


16 posted on 12/04/2007 10:07:10 PM PST by hsalaw
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To: khnyny

Aunt Henriette is going to be downright niggardly with her Christmas gifts this year!


17 posted on 12/04/2007 10:12:02 PM PST by Wally_Kalbacken (Seldom right but never in doubt)
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To: Wally_Kalbacken

Make that Harriete


18 posted on 12/04/2007 10:12:32 PM PST by Wally_Kalbacken (Seldom right but never in doubt)
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To: khnyny

That may be. But they have GUN CONTROL!


19 posted on 12/04/2007 10:22:18 PM PST by pankot
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To: RC2
Uh, Marion Barry hasn’t been mayor for 12 years.
20 posted on 12/05/2007 3:19:36 AM PST by GAB-1955 (Kicking and Screaming into the Kingdom of Heaven.)
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