SCDOR arrests Mt. Pleasant man for tax fraud, forgery

Darcell Lockwood was arrested today by SCDOR investigators for assisting in the preparation of a fraudulent return and forgery.

Lockwood, 36, is currently being held at the Charleston County Detention Center pending a bond hearing. The Mount Pleasant Police Department assisted with the arrest.

The arrest follows an ongoing investigation of a tax refund scam involving numerous individuals in the Charleston area. After reviewing Lockwood’s 2009 income tax returns, the SCDOR investigation revealed that Lockwood, a Mt. Pleasant resident, submitted to a tax preparer a fraudulent W2 form although Lockwood did not actually work for the employer listed.

The use of the W2 form resulted in Lockwood receiving a fraudulent SC income tax refund in the amount of $717, to which he was not entitled. If convicted of the charges, Lockwood could face up to $500 in fines and/or 15 years in prison.