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IRS Accidentally Deposits $110,000 in Man’s Bank Account, Then Arrests Him!

Jun. 17, 2011 3:40pm Billy Hallowell

IRS Accidentally Deposits $110,000 in Mans Bank Account, Then Arrests Him! What would you do if $110,000 magically found its way into your bank account? This is exactly what happened to a Laguna Beach, California man. Stephen McDow, a husband and a father of two, decided to put the mystery money to good use.

McDow spent a major chunk of the cash saving his home from foreclosure and paying down his student loans. Here’s the kicker: The money actually belonged to an elderly woman who had given the IRS the wrong bank account information. Thus, the legal ramifications unraveled. The Consumerist has more:

Los Angeles prosecutors say the man failed to notify authorities of the error and charged him with one felony count of grand theft by misappropriation of lost property. The man could face up to four years in jail if convicted.

The man offered to return to the woman the $65,000 that was left over and make monthly payments on the rest but she rejected the offer as she wanted the monthly payments to be higher.

So, McDow finds himself behind bars facing a substantial time away from his wife and kids. Was spending the money foolish? Probably. But, it’s easier to judge in this situation than it is to put oneself in the “perpetrator’s” shoes, no?

Watch the following report from KCAL9-TV for more:

(h/t Consumerist)

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Comments (214)

inferno
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:15pm
Unlike the government, he was not creating money out of thin air..

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beckbotsrlame
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:14pm
May be the Beckester could start selling toilet paper with his face on it to help this guy. Nothing like taking a good dump and wiping The Beckester’s face in it for a good cause. Shalom

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- EqualJustice
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 5:35pm
  You’re a disgusting PIG.. go eat some PORK..
  
  Report this comment
- ThoreauHD
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 11:27pm
  Ooooo… monkey made a poopy joke! Durp Derp! Keep it goin der sandmonkey!
  
  Report this comment
- ying
  Posted on June 18, 2011 at 8:18am
  You are supposed to notify the bank of an error.
  
  Report this comment
OnZmoney
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:12pm
People and organizations can make mistakes. There’s no reason to vilify someone for writing down the wrong account number or the IRS and/or bank for not comparing account holder names, although it would have been a smart thing to do. As soon as a strange deposit showed up in this man’s account, he should immediately have called the bank to find out what it was. Even if it was a gift or deposit intended for him, I would think he would have wanted to know the details for tax or other reporting requirements. To put it nicely, he misappropriated the money. But, in reality, he stole it from an elderly woman. Zero sympathy.

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CalvinandHobbes
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:12pm
Don’t you think that if you found 50,000 dollars suddenly in your bank account you would go to the bank and say”Umm..excuse me, but I think a mistake has been made…” It’s what you do when no one is watching that reveals your character.

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ChiroRef
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:09pm
Don’t forget, with the new health care bill, the government, as well as your doctor’s office, has a direct link into your bank account and all of its information, for instant withdrawals for payments/copayments.

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- TheLeftMadeMeRight
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:52pm
  Won’t matter because we will all have a zero balance by 2014.
  
  Report this comment
abbygirl1994
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:09pm
So why are not the ones who put it in the wrong account not arrested or fired for that matter. They didn’t do their homework did they.

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- frustratedwithgovt
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 6:44pm
  In fairness they did not put it into the wrong account. The women made a mistake on the bank info on her form so it was a mistake and its up to the man who received it to do the right thing and he did not.
  
  Report this comment
eat-more-bacon-USA
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:07pm
Thieving trash – he belongs in prison.

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hightide
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:07pm
He knew it wasn’t his. He should have tried to find the rightful owner and notified the IRS instead of spending it. That is the same as stealing.

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temple62
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:03pm
I’m from the government and I’m here to help!

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- progressiveslayer
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 6:46pm
  Ah yes the magic phrase that say’s you’re screwed.
  
  Report this comment
nskipper
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:02pm
So where can we send monies to get this guy out of jail? He did a dumb thing but should not have to spend 4 years of his life away from his family because of it! The lady is the one who gave the wrong number and he is having to pay for it! Yes stupidity is at play here…

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- FlowerBell
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:10pm
  He did not simply do “a dumb thing” as you wrote. He did a colossally criminal thing, grand theft.
  
  Report this comment
- GENEPAGLIARI
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:26pm
  Send it to the IRS. They know what to do with it.
  No seriously, send it to me. I don’t know what to do with it but will work on it. We operate a motel here in Texas and just had a retired man here who is still rebuilding from Katrina. He was also the last person off that ill-fated rig in the Gulf last year. He was already a Christian when that happened.
  
  Report this comment
obama_binpharteen
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:02pm
As much as I hate the IRS, the guy is an idiot for spending the money, he knew
it was wrong and should face the consequences.

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Frustrated
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:59pm
WTF???? Why is there even a question here?? Its about personal integrity and responsibility which he had neither of!!!

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KeithOlberdink
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:55pm
I guess there is an obama “stash” after all. Someone contact that girl on youtube and tell her that her payday is near.

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The-Monk
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:54pm
Why was the IRS sending someone $110,000? I’ve never received that much back from any tax return.

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Moocephus
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:52pm
$110,000.00 to an elderly woman. What kind of deductions was she claiming?

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- Blackhawk1
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:53pm
  She must have claimed the same deductions Obama did on his tax return. With his income he should have paid the 28% rate but somehow only paid 27%. So Obama’s accountant must have done the elderly ladies return.
  
  Report this comment
- chips1
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 7:33pm
  Apparently she claimed Rhode Island as a dependent.
  
  Report this comment
FlowerBell
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:52pm
The money was not his. He knew he did not earn it. What surprises me is that he thought for even an instant that he could get away with spending it. The bank owes the elderly woman the entire amount and need to pay her back in full. It is then up to the bank to get the money back from this thief and his family.

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- FlowerBell
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:01pm
  Correction- Overlooked the part about the elderly lady giving the bank the wrong routing number. It is up to her and her lawyers to get the money back from the thief. It would be nice for the bank to reimburse her but that would require good will on the part of the bank, and we know the banks are woefully low on that characteristic. The lady made an error and an opportunistic thief took full advantage of it, pitiful.
  
  Report this comment
- Nobamazone
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:15pm
  good you fixed your post! the lady played a part for sure, the bank was not at fault… and neither was the IRS (can’t believe I had to type that!) the lady made a mistake and the guy tried to take advantage of it. I don’t think jail time should be given because it costs US to jail him AND then his wife and children would most likely be collecting entitlement when the family loses his income. He will have to work to pay it off. Something like house arrest until he pays it all back would be make much more sense.
  
  Report this comment
Swordsmansmith
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:50pm
What an idiot! If $100,000.0 magically appears out of thin air it’s one of two things. Either there’s a mistake in your account and you should call and have it fixed or you work for the Federal Reserve! This guy obviously isn’t employed by the Fed so he did a really stupid thing and now has to suffer the consequences. Honesty would have saved you a lot of trouble here guy.

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- frustratedwithgovt
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:56pm
  Agreed.
  
  Report this comment
- SacredHonor1776
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:00pm
  Obama money is supposed to appear out of thin air!
  
  Report this comment
- GENEPAGLIARI
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:21pm
  At least, even if he doesn’t work for the FED, he will be paying back in dollars that are worth less with each passing day.
  
  Report this comment
PureDrumFury
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:49pm
The man is obviously a dolt if he thought he could actually get away with this. He deserves the four years. I feel bad for his family, but in this day and age you have to expect there to be consequences when you spend tens of thousands of dollars that you didn’t earn. Dummy.

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JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:47pm
He’s a theif and deserves to go to jail and then pay all of the money back plus legal cost.

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- SgtB
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:59pm
  How can he pay the money back in jail oh smart one? It will cost the taxpayer even more money to house, feed, and cloth him while he earns nothing to pay back the other idiots in this case.
  
  Report this comment
nacilbuper
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:47pm
He told me that the money was from Obama’s “stash”

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vennoye
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:46pm
The US government at it’s best! We feed this beast! Wonder if you can train it like you do dogs??

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- biohazard23
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:13pm
  Nah, the govt is too stupid to learn any decent tricks. Dogs are so much smarter and cuter anyway. :)
  
  Report this comment
starchy
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:45pm
The government should not be able to put you in jail when THEY make a mistake!

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- MightyMouth
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:48pm
  THEY didn’t make the mistake, some lady did and so did the guy for spending money that was not his!
  
  Report this comment
- PureDrumFury
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:51pm
  Starchy, you wouldn’t be saying that if it was YOUR $50,000 the man spent. Yeah, they made a mistake. But he should have reported it to the autorities before spending a dime of it. He deserves whatever he gets.
  
  Report this comment
- 101
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:12pm
  IRS owes the money to the woman…the guy in jail owes IRS.
  
  Report this comment
- jcannon98188
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:19pm
  Sadly, this guy was probably thanking god for sending him the money to take care of all of his problems. I think its the ladies stupid fault for giving the wrong information, and the governments stupid fault for giving this lady that much money (I mean really, why is she earning that much from the IRS?)
  
  Report this comment
- Contrarian51
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:20pm
  This is well-established law of long standing. If money shows up in your bank account that isn’t yours, you’re supposed to report it and have the bank verify you can keep it before you touch it. If your account was suddenly short the same amount, you’d sure be in the bank in a hurry, wouldn’t you?
  
  I’m guessing you keep your mouth shut if a store clerk accidentally gives you too much change, no matter that the shortage will normally come out of the clerk’s measly paycheck.
  
  Report this comment
- loadingmyclips
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:20pm
  They did not make the mistake Starchy, the idiot made the mistake when he spent the money. Erroneous refunds happen all the time, just wait for IRS to send you a notice, and return the money!! simple as that. You keep any and all interest, after taxes that is.
  
  Report this comment
- starchy
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:41pm
  I have to agree with CONTRARIAN51 – I would certainly check with the bank first before spending the money. Even so – I am sure that he has paid the IRS this and much more (at least I know I have) and there is no reason for the government to jail him for a mistake THEY made. Yes, the woman gave the wrong account # – I don’t think this excuse would fly if I gave money to the wrong account #, why should it for the government? Maybe they should just stop confiscating the money that we earn and then you wouldn’t put a good citizen in danger of this type of problem.
  
  Report this comment
- Casca
  Posted on June 19, 2011 at 10:31am
  hmmmm…report it to the bank if you found extra money in your own account? Admit to the bank that it’s not your money? The bank would not leave it in your account, waiting for the actual owner of the money will report it missing. They’d take it right out and hold it until the rightful owner came for it and search themselves. Easily done, they’d search the account, find out the exact amount that was deposited and compare it to any amounts claimed to be missing.
  One would not get in trouble if they did not report it and kept it in their account untouched for a year. Contacted by the police or the bank? Then:
  “I don’t know, I must have a secret benefactor that deposited that money into my account. People like me. I’ve been trying to find out who, but some people are modest with their gifts and want to remain anonymous evidently.”
  
  Report this comment
The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:44pm
He should be arrested. He showed willful intent to defraud “someone” since he knew the money was not his.

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- Navyveteran
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 6:16pm
  I usually agree with you, but I couldn’t disagree with you more on this point. He should have just kept that money and wait for someone to claim it. This guy if he wanted free and easy money keep the 110k in his account take 3-4 months to find out where this money came from and when the IRS comes they take the 110k and he gets to keep the interest made on the money! That would be an easy 100 at least
  
  Report this comment
- Casca
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 11:27pm
  I had a similar incident happen to me years ago. Over $4,300 was deposited in my account. Imagine my surprise. But I was not stupid enough to spend it…at least did not plan to right away. My intention was to wait 1 year….give them time to fix their mistake. It took almost 4 months before the bank took the money out of my account and deposited it in the rightful owner’s account.
  I got a letter explaining why they withdrew the money from my account. No recriminations, no animosity, very matter of fact. I thought it would be sooner, since all they had to do was search for the exact dollar and change amount missing and see whose account got credited that exact amount. Would I have kept it and spent it after a year? Hey, it was a gift from some secret benefactor, I would argue. It was in my account after all.
  
  Report this comment
MightyMouth
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:44pm
The IRS did the right thing. Any questions?

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- SgtB
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:54pm
  test
  
  Report this comment
- SgtB
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:57pm
  Okay, the guy was wrong, dumb, retarded, ignorant, and idiotic to spend the money. BUT, the woman gave the IRS the wrong number account number to deposit the money. Also, the banks don’t check to make sure that a name tied to a bank account number matches or is related to the name of the person the money is supposed to go to either. You seem so eager to pin all blame on this ignorant POS but you neglect to mention all the other guilty parties. It used to be that stupid hurt, and it was a real good way to keep people from being stupid. This is one big case of stupidity all the way around and every party involved, including the IRS should get hit with the stupid correction stick equally.
  
  Report this comment
- Anonymous T. Irrelevant
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:01pm
  tested.
  
  Report this comment
- Ethereal
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:07pm
  @SgtB
  While the other enities did things wrong and share some blame the guy who spent the money stole it. He knew it wasnt his and he spent it anyway. Whether the woman or the IRS made the mistakes or not the money should still have been left alone until the issue was resolved. To me, he should take 90% of the blame because what they did was stupid but what HE did was illegal.
  
  Report this comment
- Texas Hills Patriot
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:18pm
  The way I read it, the IRS paid the wrong person, so they still owe the $110,000 to the woman. McDow owes the $110,000 to the IRS, not the woman. Not a good move, spending the money before he found out where it came from, but should be allowed to work out a payment schedule with the IRS and not arrested.
  
  Report this comment
- jhaydeng
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:53pm
  This is where our morals should shine, but fail due to the dollar! He knew it was a mistake and did not find out who the rightful owner was through the IRS. Even if it is a pain to get through to the IRS reporting the mistake was the right thing! Common sense!!!
  
  Report this comment
- Ethereal
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 6:04pm
  @jhaydeng
  Exactly!!!!!
  
  Report this comment
- Navyveteran
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 6:10pm
  Whart you’re joking right? The IRS made a mistake. Yes this man is a moron for spending the money without calling his bank to see who deposited the money, And confirming that the depositor meant to put that money in his account. However, calling him a thief is also going to far, he made a poor decision spending money not his.
  
  If the IRS was smart they would get the 65,000 remaining give to the lady plus the other 45,000. Have the man give the IRS a monthly check to pay off the 45,000 that is fair, but to label this guy a theif is wrong, he didn’t steal money, the IRS steals money!
  
  Report this comment
- SgtB
  Posted on June 18, 2011 at 7:41pm
  @ ethereal, think about this from the idiot’s (man who received the money) view. He didn’t go out and steal this money, it was deposited into his account. Ever played monopoly and gotten the community or chance card that said bank error in you favor $150? Of course in real life, the money still doesn’t belong to you, but he was given money by the IRS who deposited it into the wrong account and their lack of protocol. I would say that half the blame should go to the person who supplied the wrong bank account number to the IRS and then 25% IRS, 20% bank, and 5% idiot. He shouldn’t go to jail for spending money that was deposited into his account, he should be put on a payment program to repay the IRS and the IRS owes the woman $110,000 minus the cost to retrieve her money and all the man hours that it took to get this mess sorted out. Yes, you heard right. The woman should NOT get all of her 110 grand because she is the one I would hold mainly responsible.
  
  Report this comment
Dustyluv
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:41pm
Found out he wasn’t an Obama supporter after all???

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- 101
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:50pm
  IRS should pay the woman and IRS should have to collect the money from the guy.
  No payments can be made if the man is in jail. Get a clue!
  
  Report this comment
- rpp
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:59pm
  If a whole lot of money mysteriously shows in your account, a reasonable person will want to know where it came from. Whether it was an IRS error, a bank error or the lottery, one must know the source before using it. That is a well known and established. In this case, rather than inquire, he started spending. That is theft.
  
  By the way, the same applies when an ATM erroneously deliver too much cash. The customer is legally obligated to return it to the bank.
  
  Considering the amount he spent, prosecution is probably appropriate. However, the penalties should probably be much lower as he had access to the money by the mistakes of others, not willful fraud.
  
  Report this comment
- Whitey4West
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 3:59pm
  The money wasn’t his…he shouldn’t have spent it! case closed
  btw, who in the heck gets a 110,000 dollar check from the irs????????
  
  Report this comment
- Anonymous T. Irrelevant
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:01pm
  Sounds like theft to me.
  
  Report this comment
- MONICNE
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:04pm
  Obvious fake story – but Blaze does not care.
  
  Report this comment
- Robert-CA
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:08pm
  Spending money that was not his & it was not money found in the street it was all on records , what was he expecting ?
  
  Report this comment
- Nobamazone
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:08pm
  Of course he should have found out where it came from before spending it, sad day for moral society when we even question that.
  @whitey
  YEA…HOW does someone get that kind of money from the IRS? Did they owe her whole life’s refunds? Is this woman on SS? curious for sure!
  
  Report this comment
- Robert-CA
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:09pm
  MONICNE
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:04pm
  Obvious fake story – but Blaze does not care.
  ______________________________________
  You’re the fake in here .
  
  Report this comment
- MONICNE
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:16pm
  @Robert-CA
  
  Dude you are really itching to fight
  
  Must be the wiener effect! Girly-Men like California.
  
  Report this comment
- Whitey4West
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:19pm
  @MONICNE
  Don’t be a tool your whole life…
  http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&biw=1003&bih=592&q=stephen+mcdow+irs&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=
  
  Report this comment
- J-Law
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:19pm
  It’s disturbing to think that there is absolutely no verification or check with the direct deposit information, especially with such a large amount. So the IRS just deposits $110,000 into any account number given, without a name check, zip, or ss# at all?
  
  Aside from that, if you spend money that isn’t yours, it’s theft plain and simple. He should be given the opportunity to repay it immediately, and then if he can’t, it’s the same as if he’d stolen it from her wallet. Seriously, what did he think? He knew it wasn’t his. Did he think no one would notice? Or did he think “if I spend it now, they can’t ask for it back, and I’m sure there will be absolutely no consequences whatsoever.”
  
  Completely off topic: I hate this commenting system setup where everybody replies to the first post because they know their posts will never be seen on page 3 or 4. I didn’t say anything for the first few months of The Blaze but we’ve had time to get a more appropriate, efficient, and EFFECTIVE comment system in place. Get to it, guys.
  
  Report this comment
- CatB
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:22pm
  I agree with 101 .. this should be between the IRS and the women regarding the money (she made the mistake or her accountant did) … but the man who “found” the money in his account should have notified the bank and IRS .. no excuses for this stealing either.
  
  Right is right .. it wasn’t magic .. unless he thought it was some of Obama’s stash that he was giving him.
  
  Report this comment
- Robert-CA
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:25pm
  @ MONICNE
  
  Listen you ignorant loon .
  This story was on KCAL9 a big time liberal network in CA owned by CBS , you’re claiming that the story is fake , then take your complaint to CBS & not the BLAZE .
  Let me see you complaining about your CBS .
  
  Report this comment
- J-Law
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:25pm
  Another article has this line: “typically identifying information from the IRS goes to the bank, but that didn’t happen.”
  
  If the IRS was supposed to send identifying information with the account and DIDN’T, then it’s their error and they should pay the little old lady and get the money from McDow at whatever schedule he can repay or file charges. The lady shouldn’t have to collect from McDow.
  
  Report this comment
- J-Law
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:35pm
  Hey, and how about a little journalistic integrity here. Aside from the fact that the article is incomplete, the headline is sensational. I expect more from The Blaze. You should be better than that.
  
  Here’s what you cut out:
  IRS accidentally deposits $110,000 in man’s bank account, [HE SPENDS IT, AND CAN'T PAY IT BACK AND SO THEY] then arrest him!
  
  or how about:
  
  Man arrested for spending $110,000 IRS accidentally deposited into his account.
  
  It isn’t too long and it’s actually ACCURATE, which is what I thought The Blaze was striving to be. A website that delivered the facts the way ALL media should.
  
  Report this comment
- FlatFoot
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:37pm
  Post author Billy Hallowell: “So, McDow finds himself behind bars facing a substantial time away from his wife and kids. Was spending the money foolish? Probably. But, it’s easier to judge in this situation than it is to put oneself in the “perpetrator’s” shoes, no?”
  
  Are you kidding, or are you completely daft? Or, perhaps Glenn is scraping the bottom of the barrel now when he hires his writers. It was ‘probably’ foolish for him to spend this windfall of money that he KNEW had errantly found it’s way into his bank account? It’s “easier to judge” than walk a mile in the “perpetrator’s” shoes?
  
  Of course what he did was not only reprehensibly wrong, despicable, and immoral, it was totally and wholly criminally illegal. Any single person in the whole of civilized society would see that right away. But you would author your post as though this criminal is somehow the victim. In my estimation, based on your suggested stance on this, you seem to be about as unscrupulous as this criminal. Obviously, and without question, he should have reported this six-figure windfall of cash deposited into his bank account to his bank and told them there must have been a mistake. Immediately if not sooner.
  
  His poor children may learn a vaery valuable lesson from this fiasco. I, for one, have learned that Glenn Beck and The Blaze have extremely low standards in their hiring practices. You should be ashamed of yourself, Billy.
  
  Report this comment
- Dustoff
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:43pm
  LOL……… nice
  
  Report this comment
- 13th Imam
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:51pm
  Where did you get the money?
  Perp. OBAMA.
  Where did Obama get it?
  Perp. From his stash.
  
  He should have donated it to The Wounded Warrior Foundation.
  
  Report this comment
- Sinista MACE
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 4:56pm
  Abolish the IRS and Federal Reserve.
  
  Report this comment
- sissykatz
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 5:02pm
  Mistakes like this happen often. It has even happened to me. Just think of all the confusion that could have been avoided if the “Man” had been Honest !!!!! It would not have been a big deal and the man would not be in Jail. Of course the Irs owes the woman and the man owes Irs. They will probably never see their money. But the man is a “THIEF”. I didn’t spend it when it was put in my account and the other people I know this has happened to didnt’ either.
  
  Report this comment
- WeDontNeedNoStinkingBadges
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 5:12pm
  ATTENTION THEBLAZE!!
  
  J-Law: “I hate this commenting system setup where everybody replies to the first post because they know their posts will never be seen on page 3 or 4. I didn‘t say anything for the first few months of The Blaze but we’ve had time to get a more appropriate, efficient, and EFFECTIVE comment system in place. Get to it, guys.”
  
  TheBlaze, hire someone who has SOME experience in graphic arts & webpage design AT LONG LAST! Dump the ridiculous 5-times-too-big fonts, the awkward & nonstandard commenting system, the absurd everything-on-one-page, et al, ad nauseam!! This whole thing looks like some kind of supermarket tabloid rag. Therefore I’m citing you for “publishing without talent” … see the judge and pay the fine (Cass Sunstein loves you).
  
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- peteasdf
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 5:35pm
  Maybe they should investigate how a woman got $110,000 refund?
  
  Report this comment
- Want our country back
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 5:44pm
  I’ll make a WILD assumption…. he’s a Liberal…. spend somebody else’s money
  
  I prefer the story a couple of weeks ago, where a guy buys a house and finds $45,000 after he moves in & the real estate transaction is complete…. (at that point the money is legally his) and he found the previous owner and returned it to him….. hope he got a generous reward
  
  Report this comment
- DogTags
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 5:54pm
  This situation reminds me of Proverbs 6:30-31:
  
  30 People do not despise a thief if he steals
  to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
  31 Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,
  though it costs him all the wealth of his house.
  
  A reasonable person would have notified the bank immediately and no have spent the money that isn’t his. A thief who steals “because he is hungry” must still pay a civil/criminal penalty and pay restitution. This man is a fool even though we may understand why he did it.
  
  Report this comment
- mill
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 6:01pm
  If it just “appears”…you know there’s not a magic money genie out there….don’t be foolish, don’t spend it….also, the older lady that gave the information is partially responsible…she gave out the information. She told them where she wanted the money…how cam she got that much money form the IRS? What’s she up to?
  
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- ME
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 6:02pm
  WeDontNeedNoStinkingBadges
  
  Second that
  
  Here from day one and still waiting for them to get there act together. Also see Dinglebagges is back or at least his slow step child = MONICNE Flame on, little one, Flame on
  
  would love to see a vote on comments with best ones moving to the top and after so many negative the Flamers would be gone, but that would probably see most of mine removed as well:) :) :) Libertarians that don’t care for rich, business centered religion seem to be petty low on the ratings around here as well.
  
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- BOMBMECCA
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 6:14pm
  Mystery $110, 000.00….Get real. Enjoy your time in our over crowded jails, Maybe your lady will find a man with morals.
  
  Report this comment
- fatjack
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 6:31pm
  That actually happen to me some 40 years ago. On the monthly statement was an additional $67,000 it should have been something like $1,700. I immediately call the bank and had them to correct my balance. It was no big deal, somebody was short $67,000, but I got it corrected.
  
  Report this comment
- independentvoteril
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 6:33pm
  hey he didn’t STEAL the money.. the IRS should be held responsible.. most likely the women gave the RIGHT number and they put it in wrong..
  
  Report this comment
- Professional Infidel
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 6:42pm
  Ah, Big govt. I cant wait for my $100,000.00 catch me if yo can brother. Who’s mistake. incarcetrate the Irs idiot who didn’t audit the OLD lady’s account, send a hun grand out with out positively knowing where it would end up.
  
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- RepubliCorp
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 7:02pm
  If I am on the jury………he walks
  she made the mistake
  He knew it wasn’t his money
  50-50 ….let him make payments.
  
  Report this comment
- Evileye
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 7:27pm
  He should sue the IRS for misappropriation of Fund.
  best defence is offence.
  The Jails in Calofunny are full now so maybe they will let him go.
  He should have checked with the bank and see where all this money came from and saved himself a lot of grief
  
  Report this comment
- calijohn
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 7:41pm
  if you’re wondering how the i r s could send a refund check out to someone, you probably don’t know any rich people.
  donald bren had his 1.5 million refund check stolen. also reported in the same orange county register edition.
  btw – the guy is a thief.
  
  Report this comment
- Whosincharge
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 8:13pm
  A gift from you and me…
  It was supposed to go in Gietner’s account, tax free.
  
  Pack of thieves all of them. Put ‘em up in TimeSquare.
  
  Report this comment
- LogicalMadman
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 9:40pm
  I don’t see what’s criminal about it. She gave the IRS his bank account information. Sure, it’s not his money. It sounds like strictly a civil matter to me. She should accept monthly payments from him or sue him, which will end with monthly payments.
  
  Report this comment
- proantisocialist
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 9:43pm
  he knew the money was not his and he took it anyway.stealing is stealing no mater what the situation..
  
  Report this comment
- SovereignSoul
  Posted on June 17, 2011 at 9:56pm
  Sorry, if you put the money in my account, it’s mine. If I leave cash on your doorstep, it’s yours.
  
  Report this comment
- 1proudAmerican
  Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:00am
  I must say, I’d notify someone that an error was made if I found a large amount of money in my account and knew it wasn’t mine. Arrest, though, is way to extreme when it wasn’t his fault.
  
  Report this comment
- planetearthsovereigncitizen
  Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:20am
  Interestingly enough this man has merely followed the example set forth by our government…of course he didn’t ask permission to spend tax payer dollars deemed for another individual…did your elected officials ask you if they could spend your social security money or borrow it on the backs of your children and grandchildren? Each and everyone of you on this thread has it all wrong…you are busy watching one hand while the other blows every last dime on the way down…they know it’s coming. That’s why we’re going to make sure Wiener gets his $1.5 million pension of our money on the way out, right? You worry about this man and make a witch hunt of it while the IRS keeps scooping up your money for the lavish lifestyles of the elected elite and their cronies. DISGUSTING! We should all be ashamed for letting it go this far…TAKE YOUR COUNTRY BACK! Who gives a sh– about this guy spending the money? A drop in the ocean by comparison. Possession is 9 tenths of the law I have always heard and so it would be yours if it were some contraband that the feds found in your possession. BLINDED!!! Mesmerized by the magic trick. I am completely baffled by the ignorance of the American people. My first and maybe last post…we’ll see folks. WISE UP!
  
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- MR_ANDERSON
  Posted on June 18, 2011 at 2:41am
  Two arguments to why he should not be going to jail:
  
  CONSERVATIVE ANSWER:
  When do we hold people accountable for their own mistakes? The lady that e-filled is responsible for the error. This is why you verify everything is correct before submitting. She should accept the cash offered back, and anything else the man wishes to pay in payments.
  
  LIBERAL ANSWER:
  If you are receiving $110,000 back from the IRS, that means you are one of those horrible greedy rich people…one of the types that we have to take from in order to spread the wealth. She shouldn’t get any of the money back, and should pay more taxes.
  
  Report this comment
- doberman
  Posted on June 18, 2011 at 5:40am
  it was Frances Fox Piven & the Democratic Socialists of America money for doing such a great job. should of taken the money an bought gold, then would have had the money and then some to spend.
  
  ALL OR NOTHING
  
  Report this comment
- UPSETVET
  Posted on June 18, 2011 at 6:34am
  The mistake was made by the IRS. The man was wrong to spend money he knew wasn’t his, but it should be the responsability of the IRS to pay the legitimate intended recipient the full $110,000. The IRS should be the one to get the remaining funds and monthly installments for the repayment of the money spent. Why should this be the responsability of the elderly woman? The loser in this case, up until now, is the woman and not the IRS or the guy that spent the money mistakenly sent to his bank account. The IRS should assume responsability to straighten the whole mess out and give the woman her money now.
  
  Report this comment
- one years food ration like glenn says
  Posted on June 18, 2011 at 9:26am
  How can you blame the guy ? He thought it came from obama’s ” stash “… Can I say it ? what a dumb chocolate..
  I swear and most of you know this, if it was sent to a white man, he would’ve tried to find out where it came from and returned it, FOR FEAR OF BEING CHARGED AND GOING TO JAIL…
  
  Report this comment
- bread and circuses
  Posted on June 18, 2011 at 9:30am
  I thught obama had a $110,000 bailout for illegal hispanics
  
  Report this comment
- Evileye
  Posted on June 18, 2011 at 11:35am
  he probably thought Obumbler was Following some of his promises
  He gowin ta pa de rent
  da gon ta pa da car patmt.
  it be som nasty whit hoe loot awy
  we be outraged my GGGGGGGGandady he be a slav
  
  Report this comment
- ChiefGeorge
  Posted on June 19, 2011 at 11:25am
  This man is everything that is wrong with America. Its free stuff mentality at work here and no question of where it came from. If he could be interviewed in great detail about how he got to this decision of just taking this money he knew was not his and spending you would find that he learned how not to question free stuff and just proceed because its owed to you anyways. What a dolt and a loser.
  
  Report this comment
- IAMMADDOG
  Posted on June 20, 2011 at 9:41am
  MONICNE….new backwards spelling of ENCINOM. Same backwards thinking.
  
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