Montgomery, Alabama – In a grim twist of cyber-crime, Corey Thompson has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for masterminding a scheme that involved hijacking internet services to steal identities and file false tax returns. The U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama, George L. Beck, Jr., announced the sentence yesterday.
Thompson pleaded guilty in July 2012 to conspiracy to file false claims and aggravated identity theft. According to court documents, he and his co-conspirators filed at least 27 fraudulent tax returns seeking a total refund of $91,304. They obtained identifying information from a prison guard and an employee at a debt collection agency.
The plot thickened when it was revealed that Thompson, while working as an independent contractor for a cable company in 2011 and 2012, hijacked his customers’ internet connections. From his home base, he used specialized equipment to take over their internet service, file false tax returns under their names, and direct refunds to pre-paid debit cards. The scheme was so sophisticated that it appeared the returns were filed by the actual customers.
This case was a joint effort between Special Agents of the IRS – Criminal Investigation and Postal Inspectors of the United States Postal Service. Trial attorneys Jason H. Poole, Justin Gelfand, and Michael Boteler from the Justice Department’s Tax Division, alongside Assistant United States Attorney Jared Morris, prosecuted Thompson.
For more information on the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/tax.
For press inquiries, contact Clark Morris at usaalm.press@usdoj.gov, (334) 551-1755, or via fax at (334) 223-7617.
Related Federal Cases
- Alabama State Worker Pilfered Identities for $1.7M Tax Scam · Alabama
- Army Families Ripped Off: $31M Kickback · Mississippi
- Tax Cheat Gets 18 Months for $1.2M Scam · Alabama
- Tax Cheat Gets 18 Months: $1.2M Scam · Alabama
- Wheeling CEO Nabbed in $300K COVID Scam · Alabama
Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News