Con man Walker Pleads Guilty in Identity Theft Scheme

Montgomery, Alabama – In a stunning reversal of fortune, Robert Bernard Walker (33), the mastermind behind a massive stolen identity tax refund fraud scheme, pleaded guilty yesterday to federal charges. According to U.S. Attorney George L. Beck Jr., Walker, of Columbus, Georgia, admitted to conspiracy to file false claims and aggravated identity theft.

The court documents revealed a three-year heist where Walker and his conspirators, including an employee from a Columbus company, used stolen identities to file phony tax returns. They obtained EFINs for fake businesses and cashed out through various financial institutions, directing refunds to their own accounts. Walker personally deposited the ill-gotten gains into a bank account he controlled.

Walker’s sentencing is set for February 5, 2015, where he faces up to ten years in prison for conspiracy to file false claims, and an additional two years for each count of aggravated identity theft. He also risks fines and restitution.

The investigation was a collaborative effort by the IRS-CI, ATF, and the U.S. Postal Service’s Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Brown is leading the prosecution.

For more information on the Tax Division’s enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/tax.

Contacts: Clark Morris
Email: usaalm.press@usdoj.gov
Telephone: (334) 551-1755
Fax: (334) 223-7617

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