Grimy Times Investigation
A brazen identity thief has been brought to justice after stealing over $154,904 in tax refunds using stolen identities.
Jacqueline Slaton, a [Alabama] resident, pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return and one count of aggravated identity theft in the Middle District of Alabama.
According to court documents, Slaton filed at least 102 fraudulent federal and state income tax returns between December 2011 and March 2012, claiming a total of $154,904 in fraudulent income tax refunds.
The scheme involved Slaton using stolen identities and having the tax refunds directed to prepaid debit cards, which were then mailed to various addresses on a U.S. carrier’s route. A postal employee was paid a fee to collect the prepaid debit cards.
Slaton’s sentencing has not yet been scheduled, but she faces a mandatory minimum of two years in prison, and a maximum potential sentence of seven years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, mandatory restitution and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the loss caused by her offenses.
Kathryn Keneally, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Tax Division, thanked special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Tax Division Trial Attorneys Jason H. Poole and Michael Boteler and Assistant United States Attorney Jared Morris, who prosecuted the case.
The case is a stark reminder of the dangers of identity theft and the importance of protecting one’s personal information.
The Tax Division’s enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/tax.
Related Federal Cases
- Montgomery Woman Accused of Stealing Tax Refunds by Identity Theft · Alabama
- Clarence Hicks Indicted in Identity Fraud Tax Scam · Alabama
- Nakia Jackson: The Tax Thief Conspirator · Alabama
- Harold Coley Indicted in $924K Identity Tax Fraud Scheme · Alabama
- Alana Wells Sentenced in Stolen Identity Tax Fraud Scheme · Alabama
Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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