FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 5, 2001

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Becky Smalley
(302)577-8667
rsmalley@state.de.us

OCTAVIA ROSSER INDICTED ON TAX CHARGES

(Wilmington, DE) - William M. Remington, Director of Revenue announced today that the Grand Jury for the Superior Court in New Castle County returned an indictment against Octavia Rosser, Newark, Del.

Rosser was charged with two felony and one misdemeanor offenses.

The indictment consisted of:

* One count of fraud and making false statements on her year 2000 Delaware state tax return, a felony in violation of Title 30, Section 574(1) of the Delaware Code, punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment.

The charge alleges Rosser willfully attempted to defraud the State of Delaware by filing a personal income tax return with a false W-2 form that overstated her gross income and the amount of Delaware state tax withheld for the purpose of obtaining a $3,193 tax refund to which she was not entitled.

* One count of attempted theft, a felony in violation of Title 11, Section 531 of the Delaware Code, punishable by up to 2 years imprisonment.

The charge alleges Rosser willfully attempted to obtain money that did not belong to her by filing a 2000 State of Delaware Personal Income Tax return with a false W-2 form that overstated her gross income, overstated the amount of Delaware state tax withheld, and falsely stated she was entitled to a $3,193 tax refund.

* One count of offering a false instrument for filing, a misdemeanor in violation of Title 11, Section 877 of the Delaware Code, punishable by up to a maximum 1year imprisonment and up to $2,300 in fines.

The charge alleges Rosser willfully attempted to defraud the State by filing a personal income tax return with a false W-2 form with the knowledge the document would be filed and become part of the records of the State of Delaware Division of Revenue.

The charges against Rosser are based on an investigation conducted by the Delaware Division of Revenue and referred to the Delaware Attorney General's office for indictment and prosecution. Not only were charges filed against Rosser, but the Division of Revenue successfully blocked her payment of the claimed refund.

Remington said, "Ms. Rosser has been indicted on charges of intentionally trying to take funds to which she was not entitled from the pockets of Delaware taxpayers. Fairness to law-abiding taxpayers demands that the Division of Revenue act forcefully and not tolerate such unlawfulness by seeing to it that tax evaders are brought to the full measure of justice."

Rosser awaits arraignment and trial date in Superior Court in Wilmington.