Tampa couple Jessieca Omowele, 30, and Kevin B. Jones, 31, were each sentenced to six years and three months in federal prison for orchestrating a sprawling stolen identity tax fraud scheme that bled $1.5 million from the U.S. Treasury. U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington handed down the sentence today, marking the end of a years-long fraud operation that exploited the personal data of over 1,500 victims — some of them already dead.
Both Omowele and Jones pleaded guilty on September 7, 2016, to charges of theft of government property and aggravated identity theft. The court ordered them to pay full restitution to the Internal Revenue Service in the exact amount they stole: $1,586,245.39. This sum represents the actual proceeds funneled to the pair through their elaborate fraud network.
Court documents reveal that from at least 2011 through 2015, the married defendants conspired with others to file fraudulent federal income tax returns using stolen personal identifiable information (PII). The data belonged to unwitting victims whose Social Security numbers, names, and birthdates were weaponized to fabricate returns — many filed directly from the couple’s Tampa residence.
The fraudulent refunds were routed to prepaid debit cards under the defendants’ control or shipped to addresses tied to the conspiracy. Omowele and Jones then cashed out at ATMs, blew money on retail sprees, and made online purchases — all while living off stolen identities. Investigators found the pair even used victims’ information to fraudulently secure utility service at their home and apply for student loans.
The IRS has confirmed that more than 1,500 fake returns were filed using stolen data, claiming refunds totaling $9,424,989.41. Though not all were approved, the conspiracy succeeded in siphoning $1,586,245.39 from the government. Many victims didn’t discover the theft until years later, when their own returns were rejected or tax notices arrived for income they never earned.
The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and the Tampa Police Department, with Assistant United States Attorney Mandy Riedel leading the prosecution. The sentencing sends a clear message: stealing identities to defraud the tax system carries steep consequences — prison time, massive restitution, and a permanent criminal record.
Related Federal Cases
- Treyton Thomas Charged in $4.5M Investment Fraud Scheme · North Carolina
- Napoleon Robinson Sentenced for $500K Tax Evasion Scheme · New York
- Craig Francis Pleads Guilty to $255K Tax Fraud · Virginia
- Russell Geyer Lied About Own Death in Fraud Scheme · Florida
- Florida Man Sentenced for ID Theft, Home Fraud Scheme · North Carolina
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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