Weld DA asks to continue with arrests in illegal tax-return cases
Associated Press
Published January 2, 2009 at 8:12 a.m.
Updated January 2, 2009 at 8:12 a.m.
GREELEY — Weld County's top prosecutor is asking for a grand jury to determine whether arrests should continue in hundreds of identity theft cases where suspected illegal immigrants are accused filing fraudulent tax returns.
District Attorney Ken Buck made the request this week after a district judge refused to allow any more cases to be filed because of concerns over federal privacy laws. Weld County District Judge James Hartmann said in a hearing Monday that part of the reason he is worried is that prosecutors were attaching tax return information to defendant's court files, making them available for public inspection. He said some of the tax returns sometimes included information about the defendant's relatives, who are not suspected of any wrongdoing.
Hartmann suggested cases could continue to be filed if prosecutors did not attach tax return information to the defendants' files, but included it in affidavits.
Prosecutors filed 118 cases before the judge's order and Buck says more than 1,200 cases are pending.
The filings came after authorities seized about two years of federal tax returns from Amalia's Translation and Tax Services, a business catering to Latinos. Buck has said that more than 1,300 people in Greeley may have used fake or stolen Social Security numbers to get refunds totaling about $2.6 million.
The investigation started in August after a Texas man discovered someone in northern Colorado was using his Social Security number to get refunds.
Buck said his office researched the privacy issue and consulted with the IRS before getting warrants. He said a grand jury would keep the defendant's information private.
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January 2, 2009
8:58 a.m.
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Hope writes:
UUUMMMM....we have to make sure we protect the ILLEGALS right to privacy???
January 2, 2009
9:17 a.m.
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Proud_American_Citizen writes:
Tax fraud is a federal crime. Tell us what the federal government (IRS) is doing to go after these tax cheats.
January 2, 2009
10:15 a.m.
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rcop writes:
No folks. Colorado is NOT a sanctuary state where such brazen acts occur on a regular basis. And your Democratic governor is not a sanctuary proponent based on his history of aggressive enforcement of crimes committed by illegal aliens in Colorado (heavy sarcasm).
January 2, 2009
10:41 a.m.
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rappaport writes:
If this much tax fraud has occurred in one city in one state, can you imagine how much money has gone out in all cities, in all states---in illegal refunds? Getting all of these illegal tax refunds back sure would help our economy!!!
January 2, 2009
11:14 a.m.
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anderson writes:
Hope: "UUUMMMM....we have to make sure we protect the ILLEGALS right to privacy???"
No, Stupid. It's to protect those who are not charged with a crime.
January 2, 2009
11:19 a.m.
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anderson writes:
"If this much tax fraud has occurred in one city in one state, can you imagine how much money has gone out in all cities, in all states---in illegal refunds?"
Tax fraud is certainly widespread, and includes citizens as well as non-citizens. Shall we call them all "illegal"? Or only certain kinds of tax defrauders?
"Getting all of these illegal tax refunds back sure would help our economy!!!"
Probably not. In any case, most economists agree that immigration (including the illegal kind) are a benefit to the economy. Lou Dobbs won't tell you that but then honesty is not part of his agenda.
January 2, 2009
12:03 p.m.
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woodjt1 writes:
Yo, anderson, only legal citizens are entitled to file a tax return and therefore receive a tax refund. And it is CERTAINLY illegal to file a tax return using someone elses SSN. Weren't you listening when Lou Dobbs told you that? Or is the full truth not part of your agenda?
January 2, 2009
12:15 p.m.
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anderson writes:
So, what part of my prior comments did you not understand? It's apparent to me that when some people see the term "illegal immigration" they see red, and they lose all ability to reason, much less read and comprehend simple information.
January 2, 2009
12:32 p.m.
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woodjt1 writes:
The simple truth is that they clearly understood that they were not entitled to a refund, and used illegal means to obtain it, i.e. using false or stolen SSNs. THAT is what is being prosecuted, not the fact that they were immigrants, legal or otherwise. Does legal immigration annoy me? No, if you've gone through the steps to live and work here legally, I'd honestly be happy to have you as my neighbor. Does illegal immigration annoy me? Yes, because once you're here illegally, you have to do all kinds of other illegal things to avoid detection so you can continue to live and work here, and it usually compounds until it comes to a final end like the guy who smashed into Baskin Robbins and killed two women an a 3 year old boy. I'm not throwing anyone under the bus because of their immigration status. It's not because I'm "seeing red" and labeling them illegals, because they DID something illegal.
January 2, 2009
12:42 p.m.
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DontBelieveWhatURead writes:
The stench from the bench is making me clench! Hartman give some illegal your SS number and let him file taxes on your ID.
January 2, 2009
12:51 p.m.
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anderson writes:
"The simple truth is that they clearly understood that they were not entitled to a refund, and used illegal means to obtain it, i.e. using false or stolen SSNs."
I understand completely and do not dispute your statement.
"THAT is what is being prosecuted, not the fact that they were immigrants, legal or otherwise"
Maybe you did not see what I was getting at in my remark about "illegal"--which was: we apply the moniker to some but not to others, even though others have also committed a crime. I admit I disgressed from the subject at hand.
Your assertion that someone's immigration status and their need to remain uncover will lead to a Baskin Robbins crime is nonsense. That's like saying if I smoke marijuana that I will eventually kill someone (we heard that sort of argument in junior high)
January 2, 2009
4:05 p.m.
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rcop writes:
Anderson tells the old liberal lie that illegal immigration is good for our economy. I have yet to see some stooge like him prove the statement instead of passing the buck to "some economists".
Any visiting group of workers who use our social services network illegally, send most of their wages out of our economy, and steal identities on a regular basis to commit these and other crimes is of absolutely no benefit to our economy.
The Daily Kos is not a source of information dolt.
January 2, 2009
4:31 p.m.
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anderson writes:
rcop, you're real free with the denigrating remarks, labels, speculations, name calling, and, of course, misleading statements about what "they" do. Whatever makes you feel like a man.
Like I said earlier, some people, and this evidently means you, lack the ability to reason when it comes to immigration. All you have is emotional arguments. You wouldn't recognize, much less, acknowledge solid evidence (which I've posted numerous times on these pages but no one shows any interest in discussing) if it hit you in the a__.
On this thread, woodjt1 and proud american were the only ones able to make any rational comments (not that I necessarily agree with what they said). That should tell us *something* about the immigration issue.
January 2, 2009
6:42 p.m.
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GetReal writes:
anderson-
Please grace us all with this "solid evidence" you purportedly have posted.
The only remarks I have seen from you on any illegal immigrant issue has been to be an unabashed apologist, and very emotional at that.
The most ignorant of your screeds has got to be the time you claimed there was no organized movement for open borders and amnesty.
When I provided a link to LaRaza you suddenly disappeared.
It seems you're glaringly selective with what you will acknowledge and discuss, and when proven wrong show your true colors by bailing.
January 2, 2009
8:47 p.m.
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WakeUpDenver writes:
Maybe we should be blaming the IRS for giving out the refunds...they should match SSN to names when giving refund checks...or go after the bank that cashed the checks...
It is amazing how these illegals have worked the system...instead of just filing tax returns because that what you do when you live in America, they just want money back.
January 2, 2009
10:42 p.m.
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leothetorpedo writes:
anderson, you don't quite have you facts rights, or I'm not sure where you get your info, but I have first hand knowledge.
I live in California so it may be somewhat different. I used to believe as you do that illegals (Mexicans 95%) were just looking to better their lives. Well 2+ years ago I was diagnosed with cancer and had to leave my job 6 months from my retirement date, so my employer convienantly cancelled my insurance. (Federal Express my employer) Well, I had my life savings to fall back on so I just dealt with it the best I could. I applied for state assistance only to be told that I did not qualify because I was not old enough and had no kids at home. During this time while applying I found out the illegal mexicans get EVERYTHING for free because of their anchor babies... they do not report any income from their spouses and get section 8 housing for free... while the spouse goes and buys a new pick-up truck and hides his identity from authorities. I've now spent my life savings trying to live after paying into our system my entire life. But, the mexicans just show up at the emergency rooms and get everything for free. They ARE NOT good for our economy, The economy is in this mess because of the 120 million mexicans in the U.S. They tax our health care, housing, our schools, our justice and prison systems, crime rates, American jobs... etc,etc, the list goes on and on... just because they buy a pick-up truck does not mean they help the economy, they hurt the ecomomy by cheating the system put in place for them... Over 50% of all new-borns at our local hospital are to illegals (Mexican) and 90% overall are Mexican, and they pay virtually NOTHING. You sound intelligent Anderson, but you had better wake up. I hope you don't learn the same way I did about these people (legal or illegal) They are ruining our nation just like they did their own. If you have kids just ask them how much time in the classrooms are spent teaching the mexican kids English, because they are also taxing your kids education...
January 3, 2009
12:56 a.m.
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rcop writes:
Too funny, but sad Anderson. I listed a series of facts, which you ignore. Time to bookmark some other websites other than the liberal propaganda from where you get your talking points. For someone quick to dismiss facts about illegal immigration, you are unsurprisingly light on hard data.
It's too late to try to resurrect the old lies about illegal immigration. America has seen and continues to see the dead weight illegal immigrants are and the costly fraud and crimes that hurt legal Americans daily.
It has been proven over and over that the only "economy" that benefits from illegal immigration is the wallet of the illegal employer. Get an education and then come back to lecture us. Until then you can STFU.
January 3, 2009
7:35 a.m.
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BikerChick writes:
..
Yoo hoo, judgie. Go back to law school.
The U.S. Constitution does NOT protect foreign nationals who are unlawfully present and behave as criminals. When they do the crime, they must be hammered. The message must be loud-and-clear. Your habitual protection of misbehaving U.S. citizens has taught you some bad habits.
Ken Buck is a stand-up guy, as is Sheriff Cooke. They are properly and appropriately enforcing sensible laws, preventing anarchy. We owe them a debt-of-gratitude.
There is no tooth-fairy. Sympathy for foreign invaders who come here and commit crimes is ludicrous. The average illegal alien is paid $43K/yr here, according to newscaster Paul Harvey. The Weld County 1040s verify that info. DO NOT DENY ACCESS TO THOSE FACTS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
An informed electorate will reward D.A. Buck for his valor. The judge needs to get a life.
..
January 3, 2009
10:42 a.m.
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michaelwelsh writes:
The Rocky might want to ask the Weld County district attorney what he intends to do about other other fraudulent tax-filers and preparers in the county. If there was only one place in town where a crime was committed, Greeley's pretty lucky. We also could use a raid looking for everyone who abuses the filing system in any manner. One reads in the blogs for this article that if only we could get our money back from illegals that we'd have less of a budget problem in our government. Sounds like the Weld DA's got lots of work ahead of him collecting from everyone who abuses the system.
January 3, 2009
11:59 a.m.
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anderson writes:
Leothetorpedo, I didn't proclaim any facts. I said most economists say immigration is good for the economy. It's in the literature (for anyone who's educated and interested). I've seen testimony to Congress on C-SPAN (also available at the Congressional website, thomas.loc. See Judiciary committee testimony from April, 2006). I'm sorry to here about your misfortune, but your claim that undocumented Mexicans "get everything for free" is nonsense. They have no priority whatsoever over any U.S. citizen.
January 3, 2009
1:42 p.m.
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rcop writes:
Sorry to burst your bubble again Anderson. When illegal aliens show up to birth their anchor children, they go to the head of the line for Colorado Medicaid, ahead of the legal Americans trying to qualify for a fixed pot of government dollars.
When illegal aliens lie about dependent children and steal tax dollars with the help of local misguided accountants, they are getting tax dollars for free.
When illegal aliens use our emergency rooms for their sniffles or tummyaches, they are stealing resources from legal Americans. And when they get hurt on the job, their employers shuttle them to the ER for tax dollar supported benefits instead of the workers comp that illegal employers don't provide their illegal employees.
You are definitely a propagandist. The shield you continue to use (the unnamed economists) is gossamer.
January 3, 2009
9:13 p.m.
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redwhiteandBLUE writes:
DIDDO!
January 5, 2009
4:25 p.m.
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anderson writes:
rcop, you haven't burst nothing. You see, I've read quite a bit about the subject and I know something about separating fact from fancy. You can spew all your gibberish about "their" kids going to the head of the line, but reasonable people will know (or suspect) otherwise.
Yes, golfnut, this is *beyond* stupid, starting with your generalization about a large group of people and what "they" are doing. You're lucky people don't run around telling lies and making misleading generalizations about golfers ("they're" slackers, they're gay, they couldn't run a lick, they're chronic gamblers, they're [insert demeaning adjective]). If we can't deal with basic information, much less different perspectives, and get beyond the childish bullsh__ and hateful emotions (see rcop) that comes up with anything involved with immigration, we will not get anything accomplished.
With the information age, came the phrase (pertaining to information, not people) "garbage in garbage, garbage out". If someone came to your door step and started hyperventilating, and making fanciful and obviously bogus claims about someone else, I hope you would show them to the door. Otherwise, you're buying, well, garbage.
January 13, 2009
7:39 p.m.
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jking writes:
anderson, you are wasting your time trying to reason out with these hateful bigots. Our country has been shoved into a dump ,these last few years, where even well-to-do states like Colorado are almost bankrupt; and our economy, industries, technologies, science, and moral standing are increasingly falling behind the rest of the world because of these outlandish stories that these numb-nuts are constantly proclaiming. It doesn’t take much brain to realize that the main reasons that our jobs and industries are being shipped-out are because of lack of skills and labor at a competitive cost. We keep changing this country into a police state and proudly vote for George numb-nuts for eight years and have him preach to us about global market while ours is sinking, satisfy our hatefulness onto our neighbors and expect to blame our failures on immigrants. Like Anderson said immigrants are good for our society, revenues, etc., but we need to make sure we equip them with the right path so that they can fairly contribute to our society and abide by the law like the rest of us; now how hard is that to understand. Go ahead and bark at Anderson and others for sounding back at you, but fact is fact we are turning into a vindictive and unjust society and meanwhile we expect others to be just and lawful. Stop sounding Lou’s bombastic horn, be reasonable vote for a just law and bring these guys out of the shadows so that they have no reason to steal your SSN; remember how our forefathers came here, and how fortunate you are as a result to be an American; stop hating and look for better solutions. If you put these guys in jails all you are doing is waste some more of our tax money that could have been used for better use. As long as those guys have no means of feeding their families, they will do whatever to survive, and no law of ours will stop them. If you were in their shoes you'd do the same. Sorry to call you bigots but I am sorry that’s all you are; and since your solutions are riddled with malice and resentment your actions make more illegal than the very ones you hate.
Touché!
January 19, 2009
9:44 a.m.
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rcop writes:
I'm still waiting for the facts borne from your intellectual endeavors anderson. I presented facts about how illegal aliens do move ahead of legal American's in our social services network. You have yet to produce a single fact refuting that. You are content to intimate racism, the first resort of those who cannot debate the facts.
That relinquishes you to the backroom of the race baiters and propagandists. You seem to be comfortable there.
And to your alter ego, rewarding large scale lawbreakers with a path to citizenship unearned, you make the fatal liberal mistake of claiming we are a nation of laws, except the ones you find inconvenient.