Post by Logan on Feb 1, 2016 1:04:22 GMT -6
When PFDs grow, the number of Alaskans reporting PFD fraud grows too
When two of the stars of the Discovery Channel's "Alaskan Bush People" were sentenced to jail time in January for lying on Permanent Fund dividend applications, they were just one example of the hundreds or even thousands of cases of suspected PFD fraud reported every year to the Department of Revenue's Criminal Division.
In the past 10 years, investigators have received in excess of 1,500 tips a year reporting cases of possible PFD fraud. The number of tips received, people fined and amount of money recovered has fluctuated year to year, but the peaks and valleys aren’t random, said investigator Shawn Stendevad.
“Various numbers change based on dividend amount, amount of press in a given year, investigator turnover, policy changes, etc.” said Stendevad, PFD investigations supervisor.
The patriarch of the Brown family and one of his sons, who star in the reality TV series, were each sentenced in January to 30 days in jail for lying on their PFD applications. Billy Brown, the 63-year-old father, was ordered to return $7,956 in improperly obtained dividends and pay a $10,000 fine. Joshua Brown must pay back $1,174 in dividends and pay a $2,000 fine.
Read more: www.adn.com/article/20160131/when-pfds-grow-number-alaskans-reporting-pfd-fraud-grows-too
When two of the stars of the Discovery Channel's "Alaskan Bush People" were sentenced to jail time in January for lying on Permanent Fund dividend applications, they were just one example of the hundreds or even thousands of cases of suspected PFD fraud reported every year to the Department of Revenue's Criminal Division.
In the past 10 years, investigators have received in excess of 1,500 tips a year reporting cases of possible PFD fraud. The number of tips received, people fined and amount of money recovered has fluctuated year to year, but the peaks and valleys aren’t random, said investigator Shawn Stendevad.
“Various numbers change based on dividend amount, amount of press in a given year, investigator turnover, policy changes, etc.” said Stendevad, PFD investigations supervisor.
The patriarch of the Brown family and one of his sons, who star in the reality TV series, were each sentenced in January to 30 days in jail for lying on their PFD applications. Billy Brown, the 63-year-old father, was ordered to return $7,956 in improperly obtained dividends and pay a $10,000 fine. Joshua Brown must pay back $1,174 in dividends and pay a $2,000 fine.
Read more: www.adn.com/article/20160131/when-pfds-grow-number-alaskans-reporting-pfd-fraud-grows-too