Identity Theft Ring Foiled in Florida
A federal grand jury in Florida has indicted three men, Israel Tassy, Evens Julien, and Jean Leroy Destine, for their alleged roles in a massive identity theft and tax fraud scheme.
According to the indictment, from approximately 2008 through January 2015, the defendants used stolen IDs, including those of deceased individuals, to file over 2,000 tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) claiming more than $6.8 million in fraudulent refunds.
The indictment alleges that Tassy, Julien, and Destine recruited and paid others to obtain Electronic Filing Identification Numbers (EFINs) from the IRS, in their names and the names of businesses, and used these EFINs to file the fraudulent returns.
The indictment also charges that in approximately February 2011, Julien registered A Tax Financial Services Inc., as a for-profit corporation with the state of Florida, and used it to file fraudulent returns as well.
Julien and Destine were arrested earlier today, while Tassy is still being sought.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. It merely alleges that crimes have been committed. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, Tassy, Julien, and Destine face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison on the conspiracy charge, a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud, and a mandatory sentence of two years in prison for each count of aggravated identity theft.
Additionally, all three defendants face a term of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
