Related Federal Cases
Kazeem, Identity Theft Scheme, Oregon 2012
Medford, Ore. – A nationwide identity theft scheme has been uncovered in Oregon, with five individuals charged in connection with the crime.
According to a federal indictment unsealed Thursday, the defendants, including Lateef Aina Animawun, 34, of Smyrna, Georgia, Oluwatobi Rueben Dehinbo, 30, of Marietta, Georgia, Oluwaseunara Temitope Osanyinbi, 34, of Marietta, Georgia, Oluwamuyiwa Abolad Olawoye, 28, of Marietta, Georgia, and Emmanuel Oluwatosin Kazeem of Maryland, engaged in a conspiracy to obtain millions of dollars in fraudulent tax refunds from the IRS and the Oregon Department of Revenue.
The indictment alleges that the defendants, who were involved in the scheme as early as tax year 2012, used stolen personal identifying information (PII), falsified wage and withholding information, and fraudulently generated electronic filing PINs to file false federal tax returns. The scheme involved the use of disposable email addresses to conceal the identities of the co-conspirators and the receipt of fraudulent tax refunds through prepaid debit cards and third-party bank accounts.
According to the indictment, the defendants obtained the identity information from a data breach of over 125,000 taxpayers and filed over 980 false federal tax returns seeking over $6.6 million in fraudulent refunds. Although the IRS rejected $4.6 million of the claimed refunds, the indictment alleges that the defendants successfully obtained $2 million in illegal refunds.
The indictment charges each defendant with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, seven counts of mail fraud, six counts of wire fraud, and thirteen counts of aggravated identity theft. The fraud and conspiracy charges are each punishable by up to 30 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1 million. If convicted of the aggravated identity theft charges, defendants face a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in federal prison for each count of conviction.
The case results from a joint investigation by IRS-Criminal Investigations Division, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with support provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, United States Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. State Department, and the Oregon Department of Revenue Fraud Unit. The case is being prosecuted by District of Oregon Assistant U.S. Attorneys Byron Chatfield and Nancy Olson.
Attacking identity theft is among our highest priorities, said Acting U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams. Those who unlawfully obtain personal identifying information wreak havoc on the lives of innocent taxpayers and will be held fully accountable.
IRS Criminal Investigations Division is sworn to protect the tax system and bring to justice those who would steal from the Treasury, stated Assistant Special Agent in Charge Thomas Gutierrez of IRS Criminal Investigation. We understand that in these types of cases, the government is not the only victim. Identity theft can have a catastrophic emotional and financial impact on its victims. Our agents are determined to keep up the fight to eradicate identity theft and protect the honest taxpayers who would otherwise personally shoulder the immense burden of this crime.
Key Facts
- State: Oregon
- Category: Cybercrime|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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