Cedar Rapids Woman Accused of Massive Tax Fraud Scheme

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Gwendolyn Murray, 33, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is facing a potential lifetime behind bars after being indicted on a slew of federal charges related to a brazen tax fraud and identity theft scheme. The indictment, unsealed March 3, 2015, in United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, paints a picture of calculated theft from the U.S. Treasury.

According to court documents, Murray allegedly filed twelve fraudulent tax returns in 2012 and 2013, using assumed names to claim refunds she wasn’t entitled to. The government alleges she didn’t stop at filing false claims; she actively stole from the Internal Revenue Service, successfully receiving refunds from seven of those bogus returns. This isn’t just a paperwork crime – this is straight-up theft of taxpayer money.

The indictment goes further, accusing Murray of aggravated identity theft. She’s alleged to have stolen the identities of two individuals, using their names, Social Security numbers, and signatures to further her scheme to defraud the government. Exploiting someone’s personal information for financial gain adds another layer of seriousness to these charges, and will likely factor heavily into sentencing.

If convicted on all twelve counts of filing false claims, seven counts of theft of government property, and two counts of aggravated identity theft, Murray faces a mandatory minimum of two years in prison. However, the potential maximum sentence is a staggering 134 years. She also faces significant financial penalties, including fines and $2100 in special assessments, in addition to a term of supervised release following any imprisonment.

Murray made her initial appearance in federal court on March 3, 2015, and was released on bond. A trial date is currently set for May 4, 2015. Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt is prosecuting the case, with the investigation conducted by the Internal Revenue Service. Remember, an indictment is not a conviction. Murray is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Those seeking more detailed court file information can find it at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov. The case file number is 15-CR-0015-LRR. Stay tuned to Grimy Times for ongoing coverage of this case and other federal crimes across the nation. You can also follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa on Twitter: @USAO_NDIA.