Myrtle Beach woman sentenced to federal prison for tax fraud and theft of Veterans Affairs benefits

 

Date: June 23, 2023

Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov

Florence, SC — Janice A. Livingston of Myrtle Beach, was sentenced to nearly 2 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to making and presenting a false claim to the IRS and theft of government property.

Evidence presented to the Court showed that in 2020, Livingston submitted three false claims to the IRS for tax credit entitlements in the amount of $1,126,553.68 and submitted false documentation to receive individual unemployability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Livingston also made multiple false representations in applying for two Economic Injury Disaster Loans, which the Small Business Administration could provide to business owners negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III sentenced Livingston to 20 months in prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Livingston was ordered to pay $183,406.01 in restitution.

This case was investigated by the IRS-CI and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel is prosecuting the case.