And Yet Another Tax Office Sentence

Del Quentin Wilber files yet another sentencing story in the ongoing Office of Tax and Revenue embezzlement court proceedings. This time, it's Alethia Grooms, 53, close friend of Harriette Walters and early participant in the $50 million scam. U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan sentenced Grooms to just over 3 years in prison today, in addition to restitution in the amount of nearly $651,000. Best tidbit from the courtroom: '[The judge] noted that Grooms received the scheme's first and last fraudulent refund checks in the 18-year scam. "She was there from day one until the last day," Sullivan said. "She was not a minor" player.' Today's sentencing brings the total to nine our of the 11 people who have pleaded guilty in the case so far. Harriette Walters is scheduled to be sentenced in June.