Leader Accused of Taking Girl Scout IDs

[Nomad559]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3558926

A Girl Scout troop leader accused of stealing her young Scouts' Social Security numbers and netting $87,000 in a tax scheme pleaded not guilty Tuesday.

Federal prosecutors say Holly M. Barnes, 33, asked parents of the 18 girls in her troop to give the children's numbers on a fake medical release.

She used the e-mail names Hotmama983 and Freewoman74 to enter the numbers of the Scouts, most of whom were between the ages of 8 and 12, and other false W-2 information into Turbo Tax software, the 34-count indictment states. She filed false claims for more than $187,000 and obtained payments of more than $87,000, according to the indictment.

Randall Lockhart, Barnes' federal public defender, did not return a phone call seeking comment Tuesday.

[aquart]

1. The Scouts are not what they were (or we believed them to be).

[MADem]

3. What an ASSHOLE!! Lock her up!!!!

Ooooh, they took away her COMPUTERS!! Like she couldn't get hold of another one, just an e-Bay click or a want ad away...! And of course, there's the standard "mental health" excuse. Couldn't possibly be that she was just, well, GOP GREEEEEDY, perhaps?

U.S. Magistrate Judge Miles Davis allowed Barnes to remain free on bond if two computers were removed from her home. Davis also ordered Barnes, a mother of four, to stop coaching a local soccer team and undergo a mental health assessment. Barnes was let go from her volunteer post with the Pea Ridge troop of the Girl Scouts of Northwest Florida, director Lisa Higgins said.

Barnes faces 19 counts of filing false IRS claims and 15 counts of identity theft. Each count of filing a false IRS claim carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Each identity theft count carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

Trial was set for Nov. 5.

[sandnsea]

2. Oh my. Florida

Isn't that something. I think it's cosmic retribution for inflicting the Bush's on the world.