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| Followup: Man and daughter get prison for tax fraud |
| 2003-10-24 |
| Looks like Robert Lee and Crystal got plenty of time to plot their revenge against THE MAN... He claimed phony refunds on returns as a way to seek reparations for slavery A federal judge sentenced Robert Lee Foster of South Richmond, a supporter of slavery reparations, to 13 years in prison yesterday on his fraud convictions for preparing and filing phony income-tax claims. His daughter, Crystal Demetria Foster of Quinton — to whom, by mistake, the IRS sent a half-million dollars for one of those bogus claims — screamed and cried when she heard her 37-month sentence for her part in the tax-fraud conspiracy. Good luck, Robert Lee. Maybe President Sharpton will pardon you... She gave birth to her second child about three months ago, while jailed, and begged U.S. District Judge Richard L. Williams to reconsider. He refused."I just want to be at home with my two children," she said. "I just want to be able to take care of them because no one else can." Too bad, so sad... After Williams left the bench, Crystal Foster cried louder and clung to her lawyer, David Lassiter Jr., and eventually sat on the floor. She had to be helped from the courtroom as U.S. marshals took her into custody. The family and friends of the Fosters who nearly filled the courtroom bitterly complained among themselves that the sentences were unfair. Wonder who did their taxes? Father and daughter were tried by a jury July 20. Both were convicted of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Robert Foster, 51, was convicted also of four counts and Crystal Foster, 25, of one count of making false claims against the government. Robert Foster, an accountant and tax preparer, was accused of filling out federal income-tax returns for his daughter and three other people. On each he claimed large refunds, purportedly for taxes withheld on undistributed capital gains on investments. In fact, there were no investments or taxes withheld. Foster said making the claims was a political stand on the issue of slavery reparations - a proposal for payments to descendants of slaves to partially compensate for the harm done by slavery and its aftermath in this country. Sorry. Go to Jail. Go directly to Jail. Do not collect $500,000. Only Crystal Foster’s return produced a refund. She received a check for $507,490.91, including interest the IRS tossed in because of a delay. Thought you were the lucky one, didn’t you Crystal? And wasn’t that big of the IRS to toss her that extra dough? According to testimony yesterday, Crystal Foster gave her mother $50,000. She bought a $40,000 Mercedes-Benz. She paid off some student loans. She transferred $100,000 into Robert Foster’s checking account. Thanks, baby girl...and Power to the People! After the IRS realized its mistake and sought to get the money back, about $266,000 was recovered. The judge ordered joint restitution by the Fosters of the rest. Robert Foster, who has claimed the federal court has no jurisdiction over him, told the Associated Press he is a citizen of the Moab Tiara Cherokee Kituwah Nation. That is an obscure group in Charlotte, N.C., whose members claim they are descendants of African Moors who came to the New World before Europeans. Maybe the aliens bought them here... Both Fosters also tried to fire their lawyers to be represented by a member of that group, Drew Sherref El of Charlotte. Williams denied that after determining Drew Sherref El was not a lawyer. Awww, c’mon Judge. That probably would’ve been a riot! Ya killjoy! But yesterday, when asked by the judge if he wanted to speak before sentencing, Robert Foster said again that Drew Sherref El is his lawyer and he asked to delay sentencing because he was not represented. Williams refused. Scamming to the bitter end. I don’t think we’ve heard the last of Robert Lee. Robert Foster’s lawyer, Thomas L. Johnson Jr., said after court that his client appeared "stark and stoic" after sentencing. A 13 year bid will probably do that to most people. Lassiter said in court that Crystal Foster was deeply under her father’s influence and believed that she was entitled to slavery reparations from the government. When the huge IRS refund arrived, she took it as confirmation of that. It’s not her fault! He’s a Svengali! Only when they caught did she see the light! Her father’s advice, the AP reported, was to spend it. She did, Lassiter said, in the way someone would who had won a lot of money in the state lottery. Look soon for Robert Lee to sue the IRS for sending his daughter an illegal refund and jamming him up like this. Maybe Mr. El will file it for him. |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #7 Can I borrow the Mercedes while your in the big house? I'll gas it up. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-10-24 6:04:11 PM |
| #6 Free Lunch! |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-10-24 4:02:32 PM |
| #5 Frei Mumia! |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2003-10-24 1:25:29 PM |
| #4 Crystal Foster told the truth! |
| Posted by: BH 2003-10-24 1:11:12 PM |
| #3 See? Just mo playa hatin' by THE MAN! |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2003-10-24 1:03:20 PM |
| #2 True dat. |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2003-10-24 12:55:27 PM |
| #1 Word. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2003-10-24 12:52:09 PM |