Georgia tax authorities think Brigitte Jackson followed an old adage: never steal anything small.
The Cobb County, Ga., woman was arrested when she got caught up in a sting while allegedly trying to cash a tax return check for over $94 million, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Authorities say Jackson said she had made $99 million in wages in the past year, and was claiming a return of $94,323,148. She actually was issued the check, although it was a phony and part of the sting. When she showed up to pick it up at a local grocery store, as per tax officials' instructions, she was arrested.
Police set up the sting after they went to her address, looking for her and her cousin Darrius White, currently on felony probation, who police say also claimed a $99 million income and allegedly filed a similar whopper of a tax return claim. When the address turned out to be old, authorities hatched their plan to write out a phony check and con Jackson into coming to the bank to cash the check.
"It doesn't matter if it's $94 or $94 million," special investigations chief Josh Waites told
WSB-TV. "We're going to go after you and hold you accountable."
Georgia Department of Revenue financial fraud investigator Tamiko Harris said that Jackson and White kept calling the tax department to check on when their return would be arriving. In one of the calls, she was told to expect her tax return in seven to 10 business days, and replied excitedly, "Yay! Thank you so much! I'm so happy!"
She's less happy now, behind bars and facing five charges of attempted theft by taking and conspiracy to defraud the state. White has still not been located by the police, but will face the same charges when he is arrested, police said.
The phone calls were recorded and will be used in the prosecution of Jackson and White, Waites said.
Fraud detection manager Kendra Carroll told the Journal-Constitution that she also spoke to White, who impatiently kept calling in, trying to find out when his huge tax return would arrive.