As economically devastated as Flint is, you've got to assume that folks are going to become pretty creative in ways to survive and thrive. Puny, hairless human beings didn't make it to the top of the evolutionary chain because they're stupid, they made it because they are cunning and formidable adversaries and predators..... Flint man charged with using homeless in tax scam
FLINT, Mich. - A Flint man is accused of recruiting homeless people and supplying them with bogus documents to seek tax refunds.
Roger Lawrence Jr. is charged with conspiracy and aiding false claims. He's in custody pending a hearing Tuesday in Detroit federal court.
The indictment says Lawrence in 2007 gave fake W-2 forms to homeless people, transients or relatives with little or no income.
It says he told them to file tax returns through a legitimate tax preparer and seek loans on the anticipated refund, then demanded 50 percent of the amount.
The Internal Revenue Service says 11 false claims were filed. The government is seeking $90,000 from Lawrence.
A message seeking comment was left Monday for his court-appointed lawyer.
