Clifford Blain, 28, of Broward County, is headed to federal prison for 36 months after being convicted in a brazen stolen identity tax fraud scheme that exploited forged government checks and hijacked personal data. The sentence, handed down in the Southern District of Florida, includes an additional three years of supervised release upon his return to civilian life.
Blain was found guilty on multiple counts, including uttering a forged United States Treasury check, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft—charges filed under Title 18, United States Code, Sections 510(a)(2), 1344, and 1028A. The case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell Killinger, exposed a coldly executed scam targeting the federal tax system and financial institutions.
At trial, evidence revealed that Blain deposited a U.S. Treasury check bearing a forged signature and endorsement into a bank account under his control. Surveillance footage from an ATM captured the defendant in the act, the grainy black-and-white images playing a pivotal role in dismantling his defense and sealing his conviction.
The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), led the probe, tracing the fraudulent refund check to Blain’s illicit use of another person’s identity. No restitution amount was disclosed, but the breach underscores the ongoing vulnerability of tax refund systems to identity thieves operating in South Florida’s crime-prone corridors.
Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, praised the IRS-CI’s tenacity, calling the conviction a win for financial integrity and taxpayer accountability. “Those who weaponize stolen identities to defraud the government will find federal prison waiting,” Ferrer stated.
Public court records, including trial transcripts and sentencing documents, are accessible through the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or via PACER at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov. Blain’s case adds to a growing roster of identity theft prosecutions in one of the nation’s financial crime hotspots.
Related Federal Cases
- Miami Woman Gets 36 Months in Tax Fraud Scheme · Florida
- Ex-Tax Auditor Plunkett Hit with Tax Fraud Charges · New York
- RCI Execs Hit With Bribery and Tax Fraud Charges · New York
- RCI Execs Bribed Tax Auditor with Lap Dances: $8M Fraud · New York
- Jacksonville Tax Prep Scammer Pleads Guilty to Fraud · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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