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ERIE, Pa.
James Lamont Johnson, a 51-year-old inmate at McKean Federal Correctional Institution in Bradford, Pennsylvania, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the government and aggravated identify theft. Johnson admitted to stealing the identities of 56 individuals who were clients of the Community of Caring, a non-profit social service agency in Erie, where he had access to their personal identification information.
Johnson used the stolen identities to file approximately 71 tax returns, seeking refunds from the IRS of more than $100,000.00. He and his co-conspirator used TurboTax, inputting the stolen identity information and wage information from W-2 forms taken from actual employees of local businesses to perpetrate the fraudulent tax refund scheme. The scheme successfully obtained more than $60,000.00 in tax refunds, which were mailed to addresses where Johnson could access the mail and retrieve the refunds.
The refunds came in the form of prepaid debit cards and U.S. Treasury checks. According to the court, Johnson’s scheme was carried out over an unknown period of time before he was caught.
Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on February 26, 2018 at 12:45 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 12 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. A mandatory minimum sentence of two years must be imposed for the conviction of aggravated identity theft.
Assistant United States Attorney Marshall J. Piccinini is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Johnson.
The case is a stark reminder of the ongoing threat of tax refund scams, which can have devastating consequences for innocent victims. As a society, it is essential that we remain vigilant and take proactive measures to prevent such crimes from occurring.
Johnson’s guilty plea marks a significant victory for the government and the community. It serves as a warning to would-be scammers that they will be caught and held accountable for their actions.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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