Criminal complaints have been filed against four women who are current or former state prison inmates, for filing fraudulent state homestead tax credit claims. All but one of those fraudulent claims were filed for a year in which the claimant was incarcerated, according to the state Department of Revenue. DOR’s Stephanie Marquis can’t comment on the specifics cases, but that’s the sort of thing that may stand out. “We’re looking for red flags,” says Marquis. “We’re looking for inconsistencies . . . for things that don’t quite make sense.
Marquis credits good staff work and cooperation between the state’s revenue and corrections departments. Each of the allegedly false claims included a rent certificate containing false information about the landlord, rental property address, time actually lived at the rental property and rent paid.
(According to a DOR press release, criminal complaints were filed against the four women by the State Attorney General’s Office, following a joint investigation by the Wisconsin Capitol Police and DOR’s Criminal Investigation Section. The Department of Corrections was instrumental in identifying irregularities and participating in the investigation.
Wendy Nelsen, AKA Wendy Eland, 43, formerly of Green Bay and currently incarcerated at the Taycheedah Correctional Institution (TCI) in Fond du Lac County, was charged with eleven felony counts of preparing fraudulent homestead credit claims.
Kristine Flynn, 51, a TCI inmate formerly of Whitehall, was charged with six felony counts of preparing false homestead credit claims and one count of preparing a false statement related to a claim.
Former TCI inmate Nicole Ousley, 37, of Milwaukee, was charged with two felony counts of preparing false homestead credit claims, two counts of preparing false statements related to those claims, and one count of false swearing.
Former TCI inmate Amy Prelwitz, 29, from Two Rivers and currently incarcerated in the Manitowoc County Jail, was charged with one felony count of preparing a false homestead credit claim and one count of preparing a false statement related to the claim.)