Mozie II Nabbed in $233K Identity Theft Scam

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Sheldon Mozie, II, 23, of Broward County, is facing a lengthy prison sentence after admitting to a brazen identity theft scheme that siphoned over $233,000 from the US Treasury and Social Security system. Mozie pled guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, a testament to the scope of his criminal activity.

The bust, a collaborative effort between the IRS-CI, USSS, SSA-OIG, and Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), unfolded after a search of Mozie’s residence revealed a trove of stolen personal identifying information (PII). Law enforcement seized papers and notes detailing the information of at least 182 victims, a thumb drive containing data on another 99, his computer, and multiple debit cards. Forensic analysis confirmed the computer held PII matching victims listed in the notes, expanding the scale of the operation.

According to court documents, Mozie filed 49 fraudulent federal income tax returns for the 2013 tax year, leveraging the stolen identities. Between February 10, 2014, and May 6, 2014, these returns claimed a staggering $208,559 in bogus refunds. But the tax fraud was only part of the grift. Mozie also targeted Social Security benefits, diverting payments intended for his victims directly into his own pockets.

He brazenly accessed the Social Security Administration’s “my Social Security” website, using stolen names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers to establish fraudulent online accounts. Once inside, he redirected benefit payments to prepaid debit cards—primarily Green Dot cards—and his personal bank account. This portion of the scheme netted him approximately $25,027 between September 2013 and May 2014. It was a calculated, systematic abuse of vulnerable individuals and government resources.

“This defendant exploited the identities of hundreds of Americans for personal gain,” stated Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. “The collaborative investigation successfully dismantled this operation and brought Mozie to justice.” Sentencing is scheduled for April 6, 2015, at 1:15 p.m. Mozie faces up to twenty years in prison for the wire fraud charge and a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia E. Shick is prosecuting the case. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida has made a press release available on their website at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Court documents can be found at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present threat of identity theft and the dedication of law enforcement to combatting these crimes.