‘First Conviction Of Its Kind In Florida’: Immokalee Boutique Owner Sentenced To Six Years In Prison After Pleading Guilty To Racketeering


A Florida boutique owner, who was convicted of racketeering and playing a major role in a tax-refund fraud scheme, was sentenced to six years in prison following 15 years of probation, according to Wink News.

Garaya Jackson, 27, of Immokalee, Florida, opened a boutique store in Kemp Plaza on Main Street called Garaya’s Fashions, selling fashionable items.

However, during a six-month investigation, it was uncovered that the mother of four was also operating an illegal check-cashing business inside her store for at least a year. She would cash fake tax refund checks, collecting $70,000, according to Naples News.

Prosecutors say she stole the identities of 47 individuals to execute her heinous crime, but she did not work alone. During an interrogation, she refused to name others who were a component of the racketeering ring.

“She was basically running an illegal check cashing store, cashing primarily United States Department of Treasury checks,” assistant attorney Eric Leontiev told reporters.

“It appears that she would take a cut for herself and then the remainder she would cash out and give to an unknown person,” he continued.

“They’re from all over the state of Florida, primarily over on the east coast… but there could be more. The 47 were the ones that actually filed a forgery affidavit claiming that somebody had stolen their identity.

“It’s extremely rare, yes, to have a prosecution like this… there’s [a] lot of work that goes into it.”

“Tax-refund fraud hurts Floridians, damages the state’s economy and our communities,” said Commissioner Drew J. Breakspear. “I am proud of OFR’s investigative team members who go above and beyond to ensure that Florida’s financial services industry is safe for consumers and businesses.”

“Thank you to our partners in the Miami-Dade Police Department and the Collier County State Attorney’s Office for their efforts to protect Floridians in this case,” added Chief of Financial Investigations Robert Kynoch. “The OFR remains committed to working with our partners to stop financial crime.”

Jackson pled guilty to the crimes and received six years in prison, followed by 15 months of probation. Prosecutors say it is the “first conviction of its kind in Florida.”

It was reported that the Department of Treasury is working diligently with Jackson’s victims to ensure they received the money they are owed.

[Image courtesy of Joe Readle / Getty Images]

Share this article: ‘First Conviction Of Its Kind In Florida’: Immokalee Boutique Owner Sentenced To Six Years In Prison After Pleading Guilty To Racketeering
More from Inquisitr