Miami Woman Gets 36 Months in Tax Fraud Scheme

MIAMI, FL – Crystal Booker, 31, of Miami-Dade County, will spend the next three years in federal prison for her participation in a brazen scheme to steal identities and file fraudulent income tax returns. U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn handed down the 36-month sentence today, followed by three years of supervised release. Booker previously pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false claim with the IRS, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 287.

The operation, spearheaded by Orlando Cairo, 32, also of Miami-Dade County, involved the theft of names, Social Security numbers, and other sensitive personal data. Cairo allegedly used this stolen information to file hundreds of bogus tax returns, claiming inflated withholdings and fabricating income using fraudulent IRS Forms W2-G, falsely indicating gambling winnings. The scheme aimed to rake in massive refunds from the IRS.

Booker wasn’t just a bystander. She actively assisted Cairo by opening a network of eighteen bank accounts across Broward and Miami-Dade counties. These accounts served as collection points for the fraudulent refunds the IRS unknowingly disbursed. A staggering 378 of Cairo’s fraudulent returns specifically directed refunds – totaling $2,128,841 – into Booker’s accounts. The pair even filed a sample return claiming a $7,064 refund, which landed directly in one of Booker’s newly opened accounts, proving the mechanics of their illicit operation.

This sentencing follows Cairo’s own conviction in May 2014. He received a 120-month prison sentence, also with three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $277,133.58 in restitution. Cairo pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud (Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343) and one count of aggravated identity theft (Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A), demonstrating the gravity of the crimes committed.

“This case demonstrates the serious consequences faced by those who attempt to defraud the government and steal the identities of innocent citizens,” stated Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. The investigation was a joint effort by the IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), led by Acting Special Agent in Charge Donnell Young, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), under the direction of Inspector in Charge Ronald J. Verrochio.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertha R. Mitrani prosecuted the case. Grimy Times will continue to track the fallout from this scheme and other financial crimes impacting South Florida. For further information, visit the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls or the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov and http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

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