Big Trouble in Tax Town: Maryland Woman Indicted for $12 Million Tax Scam

Big Trouble in Tax Town: Maryland Woman Indicted for $12 Million Tax Scam

A Maryland woman is facing serious charges after a federal grand jury in Greenbelt unsealed an indictment accusing her of masterminding a bold, decade-long tax fraud scheme.

From 2014 to 2024, Monica Patricia McGinley allegedly worked the system by filing false tax returns to claim enormous IRS refunds she wasn’t entitled to. According to the indictment, McGinley made up fake payments and withholdings, requesting refunds totaling nearly $12 million—and it worked! The IRS reportedly issued her over $1.5 million, including a jaw-dropping $1 million Treasury check in one instance.

If convicted, McGinley could face serious time: up to 10 years in prison for theft of government funds and three years per count for aiding and preparing false tax returns (six counts in total). A federal district court judge will determine her sentence after reviewing all the facts.

This case is a reminder that the IRS takes fraud seriously—so while tax season is stressful, sticking to the rules is always the better bet!