Miami Man Pleads Guilty in Identity Theft Tax Fraud

William Hernandez, a 29-year-old Miami resident, has pleaded guilty to participating in an identity theft tax fraud scheme that preyed on thousands of individuals’ personal identifying information. The scheme involved using stolen identities to file fraudulent tax returns, with one instance alone seeking $18,744.00 in refunds.

Hernandez, who faces up to ten years in prison for possession of unauthorized access devices and an additional two years for aggravated identity theft, was caught after a cooperating defendant sold him personal information used in the so-called ‘lotto scheme.’ This scheme involved listing the same address for various taxpayers and including false Forms W-2G from the Florida Lottery as proof of lottery winnings.

IRS-CI, ICE-HSI, and USPIS led the investigation that uncovered thousands of pieces of personal information at Hernandez’s residence. He admitted allowing a cooperating defendant to use his grandmother’s address to open a tax business under his name and confirmed that he knew the stolen identities were being used for fraudulent returns.

United States Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of all involved agencies, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertha R. Mitrani handling the prosecution. Sentencing is scheduled for October 8, 2014.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the rising tide of identity theft and tax fraud in our digital age, highlighting the importance of vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies to combat such crimes.

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