Blackmon Gets 51 Months for Tax Refund Fraud

MONTGOMERY, AL – Kenneth Jerome Blackmon Jr. is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 51 months for a brazen scheme to steal identities and defraud the IRS. The sentence, handed down today, marks the culmination of a federal investigation into Blackmon’s elaborate tax refund fraud operation.

According to court documents, Blackmon, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, pleaded guilty in January 2013 to aggravated identity theft and access device fraud. The scheme involved acquiring stolen names and Social Security numbers, then using that information to file false federal income tax returns. The ill-gotten refunds weren’t deposited into legitimate accounts; instead, Blackmon directed them onto prepaid debit cards, effectively laundering the stolen funds.

The scope of Blackmon’s operation was significant. Investigators uncovered evidence that he possessed at least fifteen Social Security numbers specifically for the purpose of generating fraudulent tax refunds. This wasn’t a one-off attempt; it was a sustained effort to exploit the system and line his pockets at the expense of American taxpayers.

U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama, George L. Beck, Jr., announced the sentencing, emphasizing the seriousness of the crime. Blackmon isn’t just facing prison time. He’s also been ordered to pay $197,839 in restitution to the IRS – a hefty sum representing the financial damage caused by his actions. Upon his release from federal custody, he will also serve three years of supervised release.

The investigation was a collaborative effort. Special agents from IRS – Criminal Investigation led the charge, with support from the Alabama Department of Pardons and Paroles, the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department in Georgia, and the United States Marshal Service. Tax Division Trial Attorneys Justin Gelfand and Jason Poole successfully prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and subsequent sentence.

Assistant Attorney General Kathryn Keneally of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Beck both lauded the work of the investigators and prosecutors involved. This case serves as a stark reminder that identity theft and tax fraud are serious federal crimes with significant consequences. Those looking to exploit the system will face the full force of the law.