WCTC Students Targeted by Group Running Alleged Tax Fraud

Three people living in Milwaukee have been charged with dozen of counts related to a multi-year tax fraud scheme, according to a press release by the Department of Revenue. 

Raimone Lewis Sr., 49, Kristine Lewis, 47, and Melissa Hlawek, 30, were charged on Monday for allegedly defrauding the Wisconsin Department of Revenue out of at least $22,217. If convicted on all counts the three could face up to 148 years in prison.

According to the criminal complaint, at least one of the suspects confessed to coming to the Waukesha County Technical College and getting students to apply for jobs.

But, there were no jobs.

Instead they would use information on the applications like social security numbers to file an alleged 93 fraudulent income tax returns.

According to the criminal complaint, between 2010 and 2015 the three conspired to file 93 fraudulent income tax returns. The returns included bogus wage and tax statements purportedly issued by two fake businesses requesting refunds of taxes never actually withheld.

The three filed the fraudulent returns both in their own names and under stolen identities. Between 2010 and 2014 they used fake W-2's in the name of a business called 'Raimone and Associates' which purported to be located at a Milwaukee address, which actually was a mail box drop location. In 2015, they switched the scam over to another fake business name. 

A search warrant executed at Raimone's home in 2015 revealed notebooks listing the stolen identities garnered by handing out fake job applications for Raimone and Associates.  

The three are being prosecuted by the Public Integrity Unit with the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office after an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue's Fraud Unit and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation.