7 Guilty Pleas in Ongoing Investigation

Seven people have pleaded guilty to charges in the D.C. tax scandal. Five more, incl uding former D.C. tax office manager Harriette Walters, are awaiting trial on charges stemming from a nearly 20-year scam that authorities say generated as much as $50 million in fraudulent property tax refunds.

Those pleading guilty:

Connie Alexander, 52

Friend of Walters, whom she met while working at a Maryland casino in 1992. She joined the scam in the late 1990s and took some refund checks to banks. Prosecutors traced about $3.2 million in stolen money to her. She pleaded guilty to receipt of stolen property and conspiracy to commit money laundering, and agreed to turn over $3.2 million.

Walter Jones, 33

A former Bank of America manager who became friends with Walters in the mid-1990s. He deposited almost $18 million in fraudulent checks from 2000 to 2006 and helped distribute stolen money to others. He admitted receiving at least $366,000 in illegal proceeds. He pleaded guilty to money laundering, and prosecutors want him to pay back almost $18 million.

Samuel E. Pope, 61

Former hair salon owner and longtime friend of Walters. Pope or his business received almost $1.2 million in fraudulent refund checks, dating to 1991. Prosecutors said Pope also got more than $400,000 in other payments in the scam. He pleaded guilty to mail fraud and money-laundering conspiracy charges , and agreed to pay back about $1.6 million.

Robert O. Steven, 55

A former IRS employee and longtime friend of Walters. He and his estranged wife, who also faces charges, were accused of handling more than $9.2 million in refund checks from 1990 through 2006. A bank account set up by the couple in the name of a clothing design firm took in about $9.2 million in embezzled funds from 1990 to 2007. Of that, $1.7 million was transferred into a bank account used primarily by Robert Steven. He pleaded guilty to receipt of stolen property and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was ordered to turn over more than $9.2 million.

Ricardo Walters, 33

Walters's nephew. Ten refund checks, worth about $4.2 million, were deposited into his cleaning company's bank account in 2006 and 2007. He kept at least $795,000. He pleaded guilty to money laundering and receiving stolen property, and prosecutors want him to repay $1.2 million, the amount he personally deposited into the bank account.

Richard Walters, 49

Walters's brother. His company, Helmet Plumbing, cashed $4.9 million in illegal refunds issued from 2001 to 2007. More than $1 million of the money went to accounts he controlled. He pleaded guilty to receipt of stolen property and conspiracy to commit money laundering and agreed to pay back $4.9 million.

Marilyn Yoon, 40

Friend who met Walters in 2000 while working at a high-end leather goods store. Their relationship continued when Yoon moved to the Louis Vuitton store in Tysons Corner, with Walters giving her more than $250,000 in gifts. In 2007, Yoon handled a fraudulent $275,000 check. She pleaded guilty to possession of property obtained by fraud and agreed to give up whatever equity she has in her home in Derwood.