Miami Gardens Woman Gets 81 Months for Stealing Over 3,000 Identities

MIAMI GARDENS, FL – Providencia Llanos, 36, will spend the next six years and nine months in federal prison for a brazen identity theft scheme that saw her pilfer the personal information of over 3,192 Americans. Llanos was sentenced today by a federal judge in the Southern District of Florida to 81 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $42,828 in restitution to her victims.

The case, a joint effort by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and the United States Secret Service (USSS) Miami Field Office, began unraveling on March 18, 2014, when agents executed a search warrant at Llanos’ residence. What they found wasn’t just a few stolen wallets – it was an operation. Authorities discovered a stockpile of prepaid debit cards, multiple computers, and meticulously maintained lists and notebooks crammed with names, dates of birth, and social security numbers. The sheer volume of compromised data was staggering.

According to court documents, Llanos didn’t just *collect* the information; she actively *used* it. Eighty-six fraudulent federal tax returns were filed using the stolen identities, all originating from the IP address linked to Llanos’ home. Victims quickly came forward, stating they had no knowledge of Llanos, hadn’t authorized her access to their personal data, and certainly hadn’t authorized the filing of tax returns in their names for the 2013 tax year. The scale of the fraud points to a calculated and deliberate attempt to exploit the American tax system.

Llanos previously pled guilty to one count of access device fraud, a violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 1029(a)(3), and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 1028A(a)(1). These aren’t minor charges. They reflect the seriousness of the crime and the significant harm inflicted on the victims whose lives and financial stability were jeopardized.

“This sentence sends a clear message: stealing identities and defrauding the government will not be tolerated,” stated Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Special Agent in Charge Kelly R. Jackson of IRS-CI and Special Agent in Charge Paula Reid of USSS also lauded the investigative work that brought Llanos to justice. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gera R. Peoples.

Those affected by identity theft often face years of credit repair and financial hardship. Llanos’ actions were not victimless. Further information about this case, including court documents, can be found on the websites of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida (http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls) and the District Court for the Southern District of Florida (http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov).