Masoniek Stinfort, ID Theft Tax Fraud, FL 2024

Masoniek Stinfort, 32, of Belle Glade, Florida, is headed to federal prison for 144 months after being convicted in a sprawling stolen identity refund fraud scheme that ripped off the IRS for more than $400,000. Stinfort was sentenced to serve 12 years behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $409,968 in restitution. The case, prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, exposes a calculated operation that weaponized personal data to file fraudulent tax returns.

Stinfort wasn’t acting alone. Eric L. Clemons, Jr., 25, formerly of Belle Glade, was sentenced to 48 months in prison and also ordered to pay the full $409,968 in restitution. James Craig, 29, of Orlando, received 34 months in prison and two years of supervised release. Robert Nero, 30, also of Belle Glade, was sentenced to 27 months in prison with three years of supervised release. All four defendants pled guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Stinfort additionally admitted to five counts of wire fraud and five counts of aggravated identity theft.

The scheme was built on stolen identities. According to court documents, the defendants filed fake federal income tax returns using the names, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth of real people—many of them patients at a medical center where Clorinda Walker, another defendant, worked. Walker had unrestricted access to sensitive patient data and allegedly funneled personal identifying information (PII) to the conspirators. She has pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and theft of government funds and is set for sentencing on February 16, 2018.

Stinfort acted as the ringleader, recruiting others—including Clemons, Craig, Nero, and Walker—to open bank accounts designed to receive the illicit tax refunds. The group sought a staggering $1,118,000 in fraudulent refunds. The IRS caught enough of the scam to limit the actual loss to $409,968—but that figure still represents a direct hit to taxpayer funds. The use of real PII made the returns appear legitimate, slipping through initial fraud filters.

Not all defendants were convicted. Makia Henderson was found not guilty at trial, a rare break in an otherwise airtight prosecution. Still, the outcome sends a clear message: the federal government is cracking down on identity theft tax fraud with high-stakes prosecutions. U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg emphasized that targeting identity theft is a top priority, calling the crime a direct assault on public trust and taxpayer integrity.

“Tax filing season has begun, and today’s announcement should serve as a stern warning,” said Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation. “IRS-CI takes these crimes very seriously, and we will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s office to identify, investigate and prosecute individuals who participate in stolen identity refund fraud schemes.” With tax season in full swing, officials urge the public to safeguard their Social Security numbers and personal data—because in Florida and beyond, criminals are already filing false returns in your name.