Frantz Pierre, Identity Theft Tax Refund Scheme, Florida 2014

Florida Man Convicted in $2.2 Million Identity Theft Tax Refund Scheme

MIAMI, FL - In a shocking display of fiscal malfeasance, a federal jury in Miami found Frantz Pierre, 33, of Parkland, guilty of charges related to his participation in a stolen identity tax refund scheme that resulted in the submission of approximately $2.2 million in fraudulent refund claims to the Internal Revenue Service.

The jury convicted Frantz Pierre, along with co-defendants Terry Pierre, 29, and Christmanie Bissainthe, 33, of Miami, on 12 counts, including conspiracy to submit fraudulent claims to the government, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

According to trial evidence and testimony, 1,000 pre-paid debit cards were sent to Frantz Pierre’s business in the name of Tax Professors in May 2010. Co-conspirators subsequently caused approximately 338 fraudulent and unauthorized tax returns using stolen prisoners’ identities to be submitted to the IRS seeking $2.2 million in refunds for payment onto the Tax Professors’ debit cards. The IRS paid approximately $1.9 million in refunds in connection with these fraudulent returns to these debit cards.

Video evidence presented at trial showed all three defendants withdrawing funds from these debit cards.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at defendant Frantz Pierre’s seven-bedroom residence in Parkland, Florida in July 2012. The evidence showed that this residence had been purchased primarily with fraudulent tax refund proceeds. After law enforcement announced their presence, an individual was observed tossing laptops from the second floor of Pierre’s residence towards the pool. Law enforcement found over 70 pre-paid debit cards and a thumb drive with over 2,000 people’s names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and IRS pin numbers in Frantz Pierre’s bedside dresser.

Frantz Pierre faces a maximum sentence of 41 years in prison, Terry Pierre faces a maximum sentence of 31 years in prison, and Christmanie Bissainthe faces a maximum sentence of 29 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for January 22, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Marcia G. Cooke.

Prosecutor Wifredo A. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Identity Theft Tax Refund Strike Force, with special commendation to IRS-CI (Miami and St. Paul), the U.S. Secret Service, and the North Miami Beach Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael N. Berger and Cristina Moreno.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/three-south-floridians-convicted-22-million-dollar-identity-theft-tax-refund-fraud