Hammond, Louisiana residents Angela Chaney and Craig Lewis have been sentenced for their roles in a brazen stolen identity tax fraud scheme, leaving a trail of victims in its wake.
According to officials, Chaney, 43, was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Lewis, 40, received three years of probation.
Chaney and Lewis pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and to commit theft of public money and mail fraud, with Chaney also admitting to aggravated identity theft.
The scheme, which was uncovered by the IRS-Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, involved the preparation and filing of false income tax returns using stolen identities, including victims’ names and social security numbers, to claim large tax refunds.
Refund checks were mailed to addresses in Louisiana, including post office boxes opened by the co-conspirators. Once received, the checks were brought to others who falsely endorsed and deposited them into bank accounts under their control.
The co-conspirators then divided the proceeds amongst themselves. In total, the scheme resulted in the theft of millions of dollars from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Chaney and Lewis are the latest to be held accountable for their roles in the scheme, which saw other defendants, including Cedrick Mitchell, aka Skeet, Corey Lewis, Thaddeus Richardson, and others, also sentenced for their involvement.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting personal identity and the devastating consequences of stolen identity tax fraud.
Mandatory Facts:
Defendant: Angela Chaney
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to commit theft of public money and mail fraud, aggravated identity theft
City and State: Hammond, Louisiana
Date: July 2, 2021 (sentencing)
Sentence: 36 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release
Restitution: To be determined at a later date
Related Federal Cases
- Olsen Saravia-Hernandez, Tax Fraud Conspiracy, Louisiana 2023 · Louisiana
- Nisika West, Tax Fraud, Louisiana 2012 · Louisiana
- Michael Paul Boyter, Wire Fraud and Tax Evasion, Louisiana 2014 · Louisiana
- Rommel Cordova, Tax Return Fraud, Louisiana 2011 · Louisiana
- Misty Johnson, Wire Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, Theft of Mail, Louisiana 2016 · Louisiana
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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