Faison Gets 18 Months for $140K Tax Refund Scam

MIAMI, FL – Contreas Faison, 44, of South Florida, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 18 months for his role in a brazen identity theft and tax refund scheme. Faison swindled over $140,000 by cashing fraudulently altered U.S. Treasury checks, authorities announced today.

The sentence, handed down by the District Court for the Southern District of Florida, includes a three-year term of supervised release following his incarceration. Faison previously pled guilty to one count of theft of government funds, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641. As part of a plea agreement, Faison has agreed to pay restitution totaling the full $140,000 he illegally obtained.

According to court documents, the scheme unfolded between 2013 and 2014. Faison acquired U.S. Treasury tax refund checks that had been deliberately altered to remove the original taxpayer’s name. He then replaced it with either the name of a company he controlled or the name of another individual’s bank account. These checks were then deposited into accounts under Faison’s name or those of his accomplices, with the proceeds funneled directly into his own pockets.

Investigators from the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) Miami Field Office uncovered that Faison cashed fifteen separate altered checks, all either stolen or fraudulently obtained. The total haul exceeded $140,000, representing a significant loss to the U.S. Treasury. The collaborative investigation highlights the agencies’ commitment to cracking down on tax fraud and identity theft.

“This case demonstrates the serious consequences of stealing from the government and exploiting the tax system for personal gain,” said Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, in a released statement. Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-CI, and Brian Swain, Special Agent in Charge of the USSS, joined Ferrer in commending the investigative work.

Assistant United States Attorney Vanessa S. Snyder is prosecuting the case. Court documents and further information can be accessed on the District Court’s website at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or through the PACER system at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov. This is just the latest in a string of financial crimes hitting South Florida, and Grimy Times will continue to report on those seeking to profit illegally from the system.