Riverview couple sentenced for theft of government funds, totaling $1.6 million loss to IRS.
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Court Judge Charlene Honeywell has handed down a seven-year and eight-month prison sentence to Damon Bellamy, a 40-year-old resident of Riverview, for his role in a conspiracy to file false and fraudulent income tax returns using the personal identification information of unknowing third parties.
Bellamy’s accomplice, Quijuania Williams, received a five-year and three-month prison sentence. The court will schedule a restitution hearing to determine the amount of restitution they owe to the Internal Revenue Service.
According to court documents, Bellamy and Williams engaged in a conspiracy to file false and fraudulent income tax returns using the personal identification information of unknowing third parties. The duo directed the deposit of the refunds they obtained in this manner onto debit cards in their own names and the names of others, including many family members and friends.
This conspiracy began before 2010 and continued until June 2013. The court determined that as a result of this conspiracy, Bellamy and Williams caused an actual loss to the Internal Revenue Service of $1,579,567, and their collective efforts led to an attempt to collect over $6.3 million in fraudulent refunds.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.
Defendant: Damon Bellamy and Quijuania Williams
Criminal Charges: Theft of Government Funds
City and State: Tampa, Florida
Exact Date: Not specified
Sentence or Outcome: Seven years and eight months in federal prison and five years and three months in federal prison, respectively
Dollar Amounts: $1,579,567 loss to the Internal Revenue Service and $6.3 million in fraudulent refunds attempted
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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