Mary Bennett, Eugenia Burks, Narendrakumar Patel, Identity Theft, Alabama 2023

Identity Theft Ring Busted in Alabama

Mary Bennett, Eugenia Burks, and Narendrakumar Patel were recently sentenced for their roles in a massive identity theft and tax fraud scheme in Montgomery, Alabama.

According to court documents, the defendants were part of a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain federal and state income tax refunds by using stolen identities to file false tax returns. The scheme involved mailing refund checks to various addresses and depositing refunds into numerous bank accounts controlled by the group.

Bennett, of Wetumpka, had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, as well as aggravated identity theft. She was sentenced to 75 months in prison on February 6, 2023. Burks, of Montgomery, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced to 18 months in prison on February 5, 2023. Patel, of Millbrook, pleaded guilty to forging state securities and was sentenced to 24 months in prison on February 5, 2023.

Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Tax Division Kathryn Keneally, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama Sandra J. Stewart, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) made the announcement.

“This case is another example of the punishment that will result from stealing people's identities and fraudulently filing tax returns,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra Stewart. “If you steal people's identities and file fraudulent tax returns, you will be caught and you will be punished.”

The case was investigated by special agents of the United States Secret Service and the IRS - Criminal Investigation with the help of the Alabama Alcohol Beverage Control Board. Tax Division Trial Attorney Jason H. Poole and Assistant United States Attorney Todd Brown prosecuted the case.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdal/pr/three-sentenced-alabama-stolen-identity-refund-fraud-conspiracy