Erica Spencer, Tax Refund Fraud, Kentucky 2014

A ruthless scheme to obtain fraudulent federal income tax refunds using stolen identities has landed a Louisville resident behind bars.

Erica Spencer, 37, of Louisville, Kentucky, was sentenced this week by Senior District Judge Thomas B. Russell to 48 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $94,159 in restitution.

Spencer’s scheme involved using the identities, including names, dates of birth, and social security numbers, of several individuals to file fraudulent federal income tax returns in their names and to receive fraudulent federal income tax refunds. Furthermore, Spencer received the fraudulent federal tax refunds in bank accounts she controlled.

According to the indictment, Spencer committed the crimes from June 2011 through June 2012. On November 7, 2014, Spencer pled guilty to all counts of a 31-count second superseding indictment filed on October 22, 2014.

Spencer was charged with theft of public money, unauthorized use of access devices, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bryan R. Calhoun of the Western District of Kentucky and was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.

The sentencing of Erica Spencer brings an end to a long and complex investigation. It serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting one’s identity and reporting any suspicious activity to the authorities.

As a result of Spencer’s actions, the IRS has been forced to recover $94,159 in restitution. This case highlights the need for increased vigilance when it comes to protecting our personal information.

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