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Austell Accountant Pleads Guilty to Stolen Identity Refund Fraud Scheme

A 45-year-old accountant from Austell, Georgia has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a stolen identity refund fraud scheme.

Olanrewaju Ajetunmobi, 45, of Austell, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud before United States District Judge David S. Cercone in federal court in Erie, Pennsylvania.

According to court documents, Ajetunmobi used stolen identities supplied by co-defendants to file fraudulent federal tax returns, claiming farm income and a fuel tax credit in order to generate a tax refund on taxes that were never paid. The fraudulently obtained refunds were then deposited, via wire, into bank accounts which were opened using stolen identities.

The scheme was uncovered through a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, which led to the prosecution of Ajetunmobi.

Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

Ajetunmobi faces a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the amount of loss to the victims, or both. Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for February 6, 2017.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of identity theft and the importance of protecting one’s personal and financial information.

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