Porsche-Buying Fraudster Gets 6+ Years

RIVIERA BEACH, FL – Raphael Oswald, 37, is headed to federal prison for more than six years after admitting to a brazen scheme involving stolen identities and a hefty tax refund fraud. Oswald, also known as Mackenson R. Olibrice, was sentenced to 74 months behind bars followed by three years of supervised release, the Department of Justice announced today.

U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer and IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Kelly R. Jackson revealed the sentencing following Oswald’s guilty plea to one count each of wire fraud (Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343), theft of public money (Title 18, United States Code, Section 641), and aggravated identity theft (Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A). The investigation initially stemmed from a 2013 case involving Oswald’s use of a stolen identity to finance a luxury lifestyle.

Court documents detail how Oswald walked into car dealerships in New York and, using a fraudulent passport and Florida driver’s license bearing his photo but the name of another woman, purchased a 2006 Porsche and a BMW X-5. This initial act of identity theft quickly unraveled a much larger operation. Investigators discovered Oswald had amassed a trove of stolen personal identifying information from numerous victims.

Oswald didn’t stop at luxury cars. He exploited the stolen identities to file over one hundred fraudulent federal tax returns, funneling a total of $139,308 in illicit refunds into bank accounts held under the name of his company. He then systematically withdrew cash and used the stolen funds for personal purchases, living large on the backs of identity theft victims and defrauding the U.S. government.

“This wasn’t just about buying a fancy car,” stated a source close to the investigation, speaking on condition of anonymity. “This guy built a whole scheme around exploiting other people’s information. He treated identities like they were disposable, and now he’s paying the price.” Ferrer commended the diligent work of IRS-CI in uncovering the full extent of Oswald’s criminal activity.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia R. Wood prosecuted the case. Those seeking further details can find related court documents at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov. This case serves as a stark warning: stealing identities and defrauding the government will result in serious federal consequences.