By Del Quentin Wilber
Washington Post Staff Writer
WASHINGTON — A former clerk at the D.C. Department of Tax and Revenue was sentenced yesterday to 15 months in federal prison for operating a refund scam that netted her and her boyfriend $184,000.
Jacqueline C. Wright, 41, of Temple Hills pleaded guilty in August to mail fraud, admitting that she manipulated a government computer system to issue phony refunds in 2007 that she split with her boyfriend.
U.S. District Court Judge James Robertson said Wright deserved prison time because she abused her job as a public official. “There is no excuse for a District of Columbia employee to engage in the outright and outrageous conduct you engaged in,” said Robertson, who also ordered Wright to pay $184,000 in restitution.
Wright told Robertson that she was “remorseful” for her conduct.