Leader Accused of Taking Girl Scout IDs

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>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. </p>

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.</p>

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.</p>

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

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.</p>

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.</div></p>

Haha, and the IRS gets pissy about my claims.</p>

-Petey</p>

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