Springs woman convicted of role in tax refund scam run by prisoners

A federal jury in Denver has convicted a woman of conspiracy and seven other charges stemming from a tax refund scheme that prosecutors say was being run by Colorado prison inmates.

Cristina Portillos, 36, was convicted Friday after a five-day trial and is scheduled to be sentenced July 29.

Prosecutors say she agreed to receive about $38,000 in bogus IRS refund checks at her Colorado Springs address as part of the scam. Two inmates used information from other inmates and their relatives to file false returns claiming refunds ranging from $2,491 to $3,052.

In all, more than 250 false refund claims were submitted.

Portillos and five alleged co-conspirators were indicted last year.