Latonya Carson Convicted in $1.1M Stolen ID Tax Scam

Dallas woman Latonya Carson, 42, was convicted by a federal jury in a $1.18 million scheme built on stolen identities—some pulled from incarcerated individuals—to file fraudulent tax returns and funnel refunds into a cross-border operation shipping luxury vehicles to Nigeria. The four-day trial, presided over by Chief U.S. District Judge Barbara M. G. Lynn, ended in guilty verdicts on 13 counts, including conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering.

Carson was found guilty on one count of conspiracy to commit theft of public funds, access device fraud, and wire fraud; three counts of aggravated identity theft; one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering; four counts of money laundering; and four counts of wire fraud. Each count carries steep penalties—up to 20 years in prison per wire fraud and money laundering charge, two years mandatory for each aggravated identity theft count, and fines reaching $500,000 or double the transaction value.

Prosecutors proved Carson and her coconspirators used stolen personal data to file false income tax returns from 2012 to 2014. Refunds were loaded onto Green Dot debit cards, then funneled through shell companies to convert the cash into cashier’s checks. The operation bought 204 used cars at wholesale auctions in Dallas County, shipping them overseas to Nigeria. Over two years, $1,184,950 flowed through these accounts for vehicle purchases alone.

Five were originally charged. Segun Edomwonyi, a/k/a “Benny O. Prince,” and Titalayo Idowu Olukoya remain fugitives. Charges were dropped against Ricardo Garth Solomon. Smith Olsola Akin, 33, pleaded guilty in May 2016 to conspiracy to commit money laundering and awaits sentencing in January 2017.

Seized assets include eight pairs of Christian Louboutin shoes, one pair of Gucci booties, seven designer handbags, and more than $26,000 from two bank accounts. These items are subject to forfeiture under the superseding indictment, marking the government’s push to strip illicit gains from the criminal enterprise.

The investigation was led by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Secret Service, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Stokes and Camille Sparks are prosecuting the case, signaling federal resolve against identity theft rings exploiting both tax systems and vulnerable populations behind bars.