Kevin Glenn Petty, Theft of Government Property, Oklahoma 2017

Kevin Glenn Petty, a 54-year-old Sand Springs man, pleaded guilty to theft of government property for filing fraudulent tax returns, netting him a $3,800 tax refund. The plea agreement was announced by U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

A federal court in Oklahoma heard the plea, where Petty admitted to opening multiple financial accounts in order to receive direct deposit refunds from fraudulent federal income tax filings. The scheme was discovered in 2017, when Petty filed a fraudulent 2016 income tax return under the name of a taxpayer who was unaware of the filing.

The $3,800 tax refund was deposited into a Green Dot card account, which funded a Green Dot pre-paid debit account. Petty also filed five additional fraudulent returns, under different names, which were intercepted by the IRS. The six false returns filed by Petty sought a total of $12,303 in fraudulent refunds.

At the time of his arrest by Sand Springs Police in 2017, Petty was found to be in possession of personal identifying information of multiple individuals. This included credit and debit cards in the names of other individuals, as well as a list of names with social security numbers and dates of birth.

U.S. Attorney Trent Shores warned of the dangers of tax refund identity theft, stating that it is a significant and growing problem. Petty's actions not only caused financial loss to the government but also put the victims of identity theft at risk of further financial harm.

Chief Judge John E. Dowdell set sentencing for January 6, 2020. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. McLoughlin prosecuted the case, which was conducted by the Sand Spring Police Department, IRS-Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Postal Inspector.

The investigation revealed that Petty's scheme was extensive, with multiple financial accounts and a list of personal identifying information for numerous individuals. The case serves as a warning to those who would engage in such activities, and the consequences of being caught.

Petty's guilty plea marks the end of a long and complex investigation. His sentencing is set for January 6, 2020, and he faces the possibility of prison time and fines for his crimes.

Petty's case highlights the importance of protecting personal identifying information and being vigilant against identity theft. The case also serves as a reminder of the consequences of engaging in such activities and the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies.

Defendant: Kevin Glenn Petty

Criminal Charge: Theft of Government Property

City and State: Sand Springs, Oklahoma

Crime Date: 2017

Sentence: Sentencing set for January 6, 2020

Dollar Amount: $3,800 tax refund, totaling $12,303 in fraudulent refunds

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndok/pr/sand-springs-police-and-irs-snare-man-false-tax-returns