additional items were underneath the bunk. reporter: the items tax forms, an address book with social security numbers, birthdays and cheat sheets for filling out returns. that was december of 2006. what linback had stumbled upon was a lucrative income tax fraud scheme run by inmates at the monroe county jail near key west. before they were busted, the inmates filed for more than $1 million in tax refunds involving half the jail population. but what they would do is go to other inmates and suggest to an inmate, i can get you $4,500 in a tax return, it will cost you $500. reporter: in some cases, with the help of friends and family, the prisoners would fill out the 1040-ez short form, then attach the form with the names of businesses that didn t exist, and income they never earned. the 4852 is a substitute used when an employer doesn t provide a w-2. the additional investigation was
what lindhback had stumbled upon was a lucrative income tax scheme run by inmates at the jail in key west. before the bust the inmates filed for more than $1 million of tax refunds involving half the jail population. what they would do is go to other inmates and suggest to an inmate, i can get you $4,500 in a tax return. it will cost you $500. reporter: in some cases with the help of friends and family, the prisoners would fill out the 1040 ez short form, then attach a 4852 form with the names of businesses that didn t exist and income they never earned. the 4852 is a substitute used when an employer doesn t provide a w-2. the initial investigation handled by county prosecutor john ellsworth. phone calls were recorded. one of the main guys at one point is telling one of his cohorts that he s not going to
scheme run by inmates at the monroe county jail near key west. before they were busted, the inmates filed for more than 1million in tax refunds, involving half the jail population. what they would do is go to other inmates and suggest to an inmate, i can get you $4500 in a tax return. it will cost you $500. reporter: in some cases, with the help of friends and family, the prisoners would fill out the 1040 ez short form. then attach a 4852 form with the names of businesses that didn t exist. and income they never earned. the 4852 is a substitute used when an employer doesn t provide a w-2. the initial investigation was handled by a county prosecutor. phone calls were recorded. one of the main guys at one point just telling one of his cohorts that he s not going to do white collar street crime anymore because uncle sam is
expect to find much. after the inmate has exited the cell. went over, basically pulled up the mattress. he had some of the items under his mattress. additional mattress underneath the bunk. reporter: the items, tax forms and address book with social security numbers, birth dates and cheat sheets for filling out returns. that was december of 2006. what lindback stumbled upon was a scheme run by inmates at the monroe county jail near i can west. before they were busted they filed for more than $1 million in tax refunds involving half the jail population. but what they would do is go to other inmates and suggest to an inmate, i can get you $4500 in a tax return. it will cost you $500. reporter: in some cases with the help of friends and family, the prisoners would fill out the 1040 ez short form. then attach a 4852 form with the names of businesses that didn t
filed for more than $1 million in tax refunds involving half the jail population. what they would do is go to other inmates and suggest to an inmate, i can get you $4500 in a tax return. it will cost you $500. reporter: in some cases, with the help of friends and family, the prisoners would fill out the 1040 ez short form and attach a 4852 form with the names of businesses that didn t exist and income they never earned. the 4852 is a substitute used when an employer doesn t provide a w-2. the initial investigation was handled by county prosecutor, john ellsworth. phone calls were recorded. one of the main guys at one point is telling one of his cohorts that he is not going to do white collar street crime anymore, because uncle sam is take caring of him. reporter: before they were