Jason Maclaskey, Stolen Identity Refund Fraud, Texas 2013

Houston Man Among Three Charged In Stolen Identity Refund Fraud Conspiracy

Jason Maclaskey, 33, of Spring, Texas, has been charged with conspiracy, theft of government funds, and aggravated identity theft related to his participation in a scheme to use stolen identities to file fraudulent tax returns.

According to the indictment, Maclaskey, along with Heather Dale, 23, of Grant, Alabama, and Omar Butt, 29, of Brooklyn, New York, unlawfully obtained names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers from 371 taxpayers and filed false tax returns in their names in 2009.

The defendants allegedly used this information to set up fraudulent bank accounts at Inter National Bank and through NetSpend debit cards in the taxpayers’ names and then directed the tax refunds to these accounts. They claimed a total of more than $1.4 million in false tax refunds and succeeded in withdrawing approximately $300,000.

Maclaskey faces nine counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of access device fraud, and one count each of being a fugitive in possession of a weapon and possession of a stolen weapon. He is currently scheduled to make his initial appearance at 2:00 p.m. today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Smith.

The investigation that led to this indictment was conducted by agents from Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Sharad S. Khandelwal is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

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