MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Two Memphians are now serving prison time for a tax scandal involving a local charity.
36-year-old Ronald Black and 21-year-old Katrina Banks were both sentenced for stealing personal information from discarded Angel Tree applications to file false income tax returns.
According to the U.S. Attorney's office the two used the stolen information to create fraudulent bank accounts. They filed at least 200 false returns and stole more than $200,000.
The Memphis Salvation Army, which runs the Angel Tree program, doesn't know how the information was stolen. The charity says it has strict rules in place; applications should never leave the building and are always shredded.
"There was no identity that actually said this was a Salvation Army Angel Tree program," stated Barbara Rich. "All I can say is someone who would do this, I really worry about their conscience because this is something that is really meant to be a wonderful blessing for people."
The Memphis Salvation Army says it now only uses the last four digits of applicants' social security numbers.
Ronald Black was sentenced to 51 months in prison; Katrina Banks received a 30 month sentence.
