Related Federal Cases
Five Sentenced for Stolen Identity Refund Scheme
Five individuals, including Fahim Suleiman and Muuad Salem, have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a scheme to defraud the United States by obtaining false and fraudulent U.S. Treasury tax refund checks.
According to court documents, the defendants participated in a conspiracy with others to file false United States income tax returns using personal identifying information, including names and Social Security numbers, of deceased taxpayers in order to obtain false tax refund checks that were subsequently sold and negotiated.
Suleiman was sentenced to 64 months in prison, including a 24-month mandatory minimum sentence for aggravated identity theft. Salem was sentenced to 27 months in prison.
Three co-conspirators, Najeh Widdi, Hanan Widdi, and Hazem Woodi, had previously been sentenced in May 2012. Najeh Widdi received 36 months in prison, Hanan Widdi received 21 months, and Hazem Woodi received 18 months.
All five defendants were ordered to pay $177,744 in restitution to the IRS as part of their sentences.
The scheme, which involved at least $1.7 million in fraudulently obtained tax returns, was uncovered by the IRS and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Ohio.
“The theft of anyone’s identity is a serious offense, but stealing the identities of the recently departed to defraud all the other taxpayers is particularly egregious,” said U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach. “These sentences should cause anyone who would engage in this conduct to reconsider.”
The case is a reminder of the importance of protecting personal identifying information and the consequences of engaging in identity theft and mail fraud.
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Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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