VAN NUYS : 3 Sentenced in Fake Tax Refund Scheme

Three men, including two from the San Fernando Valley, were sentenced Tuesday for taking part in the largest electronic tax fraud prosecuted this tax season in California, the U. S. attorney’s office said.

U. S. Dist. Judge Stephen V. Wilson sentenced Randy Slone, 32, of Van Nuys to three years and five months in prison for conspiring with others to defraud the Internal Revenue Service’s electronic tax system of more than $500,000, U. S. Atty. Eric C. Lisann said.

Wilson sentenced Lorence Hammond, 22, of Panorama City to 15 months in prison and Dwayne Donaldson, 27, of Los Angeles to three months in prison for their roles in the scam, Lisann said. Wilson also ordered Slone and Hammond to pay restitution of $67,000 each and fines of $7,500.

Donaldson was ordered to pay $8,200 in restitution and a $2,000 fine, Lisann said.

Khamil Burkley, 20, of Pacoima was sentenced Oct. 22 to 16 months in prison for her role in the scam.

Authorities suspected the four of recruiting as many as 200 people and helping them to file electronically for false 1991 income tax refunds, Lisann said.