Bryant Thompson, a former Alabama corrections officer, has been convicted of tax fraud and identity theft in a shocking case that has left many stunned. The 44-year-old Thompson was found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the United States, seven counts of wire fraud, and seven counts of aggravated identity theft.
According to sources, Thompson was assigned to the shift clerk position at an Alabama state prison, giving him access to the personal identifying information of every inmate in the custody of the Alabama Department of Corrections, past and present. He and his co-conspirator, Quincy Walton, used this information to file false federal income tax returns in the names and Social Security numbers of inmates, stealing millions from the IRS.
The investigation revealed that several internet protocol (IP) addresses were used to file the fraudulent tax returns, including one IP address directly assigned to Thompson’s residence at the time certain tax returns were filed. Circumstantial evidence tied both Thompson and Walton to the other IP addresses.
Thompson and Walton directed stolen tax refunds onto prepaid debit cards and requested other refunds in the form of U.S. Treasury Checks. The cards and checks were mailed to several addresses associated with Thompson and Walton in Montgomery and Prattville, Ala., and several of the checks were cashed at a local retail store by Walton’s uncle and at a local check casher.
At sentencing, Thompson faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for the conspiracy count and a statutory minimum of two years in prison for each aggravated identity theft conviction. He also faces a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count. In addition to prison time, Thompson may also face fines and restitution to the IRS and other victims.
Thompson and his co-conspirator, Quincy Walton, a former Alabama corrections officer, are scheduled to be sentenced in the near future. The case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and was prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Justin Gelfand, Jason Poole, and Alexander Effendi of the Tax Division.
Defendant: Bryant Thompson
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to defraud the United States, seven counts of wire fraud, and seven counts of aggravated identity theft
City and State: Montgomery, Alabama
Exact Date: January 24, 2014
Sentence or Outcome: Convicted, awaiting sentencing
Dollar Amounts: Millions stolen from the IRS
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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