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based on Enumclaw joan thomasThe 67-year-old will serve three years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for his role in a scam that lasted seven years.
According to a official release From the IRS, Thomas and her husband, Allan, a drainage district commissioner in eastern King County for more than 35 years, stole $413,323 from 2012 to 2017.
In 2012, Joann opened a joint account with her stepson, Allan’s son from a previous marriage. The business account was in the name of a company called AC Services. Until the scheme was halted in 2017, Allan funneled $413,323 of local tax dollars into the account, claiming AC Services was paid for upkeep of the drainage ditch. However, Thomas’ son testified that apart from two small jobs at the beginning of 2012, he did participate in any drainage ditch work. A current drainage district commissioner also testified that he had no work done on the ditches during those years and that they were in poor condition when he took office.
In May 2022, Joann was convicted in a jury trial of 15 federal felonies: conspiracy; four counts of wire fraud and mail fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft and four counts of money laundering.
US Attorney Nick Brown weighed in on the case, saying, “Allan and Joann Thomas not only defrauded their neighbors by stealing tax dollars, they abused a position of public trust, eroding faith in government.”
“Thomas’ burglary caused some 700 Enumclaw residents to pay higher property taxes, which many are unable to pay and for which they received no services,” Brown continued, “Mr. Thomas is also held accountable in his sentencing on next month .”
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Allan Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on 10 federal felony charges on February 3, 2023.
His sentencing date was postponed when his attorney claimed he was unable to adequately represent his client due to illness.
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