Raid Yields A Treasure Trove, FBI List Shows

The day of the arrests and searches, federal prosecutors said they had confirmed that Walters, Gustus, three of Walters's relatives and another friend had stolen $16 million in 42 phony refunds dating from 2004. The next day, prosecutors said they had found evidence that the group stole a total of at least $20 million using 58 fraudulent checks.

A subsequent Washington Post analysis found $31.7 million in 92 suspicious property tax refund checks from 2000 to 2007, all issued to fictitious companies or for properties that do not exist in the city.

Prosecutors have said they expect to confirm more theft, and some law enforcement sources said the total loss to the city could exceed $30 million. Despite the haul from Walters's home, prosecutors said in a court hearing this week that they fear the suspects spent or spirited away most of the money. They persuaded a judge that Walters has the means and motivation to flee, and she remains jailed.

In papers filed yesterday, federal prosecutors in Maryland, where charges against four of the defendants were filed, said they have located $4.2 million in cash in banks, $1.5 million in real estate and $800,000 in cars, furniture and other property.

Walters is charged with 10 counts of bank fraud, mail fraud and theft. In addition to Gustus, Turnbull and Ricardo Walters, others facing charges include Walters's brother Richard Walters and her friend Connie Alexander.

More details emerged in a court filing yesterday about Turnbull's alleged role in the case. Turnbull, who has been jailed since her arrest, wants to be released and has a hearing set for Monday. Prosecutors argued in court papers that she is "one of two leaders of the scheme," along with her aunt.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan C. Su said Turnbull "was crucial to the scheme in that she received and negotiated at least 34 of the fraudulent checks identified thus far, totaling over $12 million."

Her attorney, Michael CitaraManis, a federal public defender, did not respond to a message left at his office seeking comment.

Turnbull is a native of Puerto Rico, Su said, and has traveled extensively to that island and also to the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, Spain, France and other places in Europe.

"She owns at least one home in the Dominican Republic (where she has also transmitted hundreds of thousands of dollars), the father of her children resides in Puerto Rico, and her mother resides in the Virgin Islands," Su wrote.

"The defendant also noted that she had telephone bills averaging $1,500 per month because she had many friends all over the world," he said.

Staff researcher Meg Smith and staff writer Paul Duggan contributed to this report.