A Florida man has been sentenced to two years in prison for his role in a federal income tax refund fraud scheme. Allen L. Bryant, a 48-year-old resident of Jasper, Florida, was found guilty of aggravated identity theft and was sentenced to a mandatory two years of incarceration followed by one year of supervised release.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Bryant used the identities of deceased victims, including their names, dates of birth, and social security numbers, to file for federal income tax refunds. The refunds were then wired into his personal checking account.
The scheme was investigated by Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service/Office of Inspector General, who presented the case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution. Assistant United States Attorney Gina S. Vann was assigned to the case.
Bryant pled guilty on June 16, 2014, to the charges against him. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to pay $184,486.64 in restitution.
The case is a reminder of the importance of protecting one’s identity and being vigilant about tax refund scams. Taxpayers should be cautious of any unsolicited emails, phone calls, or mail that asks for personal or financial information.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office warns that tax refund scams are a growing problem and that victims may lose thousands of dollars as a result of these scams.
Bryant’s sentence is a result of his involvement in the tax refund scheme and serves as a warning to others who may be considering similar crimes.
Related Federal Cases
- Jermaine Winters, Tax Refund Fraud and Identity Theft, Florida 2012 · Florida
- Edward Lincoln Forehand, Securities Fraud Scheme, Alabama 2009 · Florida
- Stanley P. Phillips, Wire Fraud, Alabama 2018 · Florida
- Kenol Augustin, Identity Theft Tax Fraud, Florida 2014 · Florida
- Brandon James, IRS Refund Fraud, Florida 2013 · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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