Three Springfield women indicted for tax fraud

Three Springfield women have been indicted for their roles in a nearly $300,000 tax fraud conspiracy.

Nancy Walker, 54, Carolyn Cobb, 54, and Clementine Lockett, 41, were charged in a 25-count indictment that was sealed until Feb. 26, when Lockett was arrested and first appeared in court. Lockett remains in custody pending a March 2 detention hearing. Cobb is in state custody for a separate case, and Walker remains a fugitive, according to a Feb. 29 news release from the office of Tammy Dickinson, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

The federal indictment alleges that between January 2010 and April 23, 2013, Walker, Cobb and Lockett conspired to net at least $297,173 in fraudulently obtained tax refunds.

The trio allegedly used stolen identities, including names and Social Security numbers, to electronically file false, fraudulent income tax returns. The conspirators are accused of using fictitious W-2 information, as well as listing fake education-related expenses, according to the release.

According to the indictment, the returns were deposited into bank accounts controlled by Walker and Cobb or deposited into prepaid debit cards.

Walker also is charged with three counts of identity theft, six counts of stealing public money and 15 counts of making false claims. Cobb and Lockett are charged with Walker in two false claims counts, and Cobb also is charged with Walker in two of the counts of stealing public money, according to the release.