A Dallas woman was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for her role in an identity theft scheme that targeted the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Alicia Gardner, 43, of Dallas, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
According to documents filed in her case, Gardner knowingly and intentionally participated in a scheme to defraud the IRS from approximately January 11, 2013 to March 1, 2013. During this time, Gardner electronically filed tax returns for the tax year 2012 with her EFIN under taxpayers’ names and social security numbers without the taxpayers’ knowledge or consent.
The IRS issued refund checks to Gardner as opposed to the unsuspecting taxpayers. Gardner and/or her unindicted coconspirator then proceeded to forge the signatures of the taxpayers on the refund checks and cash them.
In one instance, on November 11, 2013, Gardner electronically submitted a tax return with a refund request of $1,112 for K.V., without K.V.’s knowledge or consent. Gardner then endorsed and cashed the refund check.
Gardner was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater to 24 months in federal prison. She was also ordered to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on June 20, 2017 and to pay $384,391.99 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Wirmani prosecuted the case.
Related Federal Cases
- David William Welbig, Aggravated Identity Theft, New Mexico 2014 · Colorado
- Abel Fajardo-Guizar, Identity Theft, Iowa 2014 · Washington
- Wytrenia Reynolds, Identity Theft, Georgia 2014 · Texas
- Tracy Mitchell, Identity Theft, Alabama 2013 · Texas
- Angel Lara-Merida, Identity Theft, Louisiana 2012 · Louisiana
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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