Glenn Francis, a 58-year-old man from Palm Harbor, Florida, has been charged with running a brazen scheme that involved impersonating IRS officers and extorting money from unsuspecting U.S. residents.
According to the indictment, Francis, along with India-based call centers, conspired to extort money from U.S. residents by impersonating IRS officers, loan officers, and computer technicians. The scammers would convince their victims that they owed money to the IRS or that their computers had been hacked, and that they needed to pay an advance fee to resolve the issue.
The indictment alleges that Francis collected the fraud proceeds by withdrawing them from bank accounts he controlled, retrieving them from money services businesses, and depositing checks and cash equivalents into bank accounts he controlled. He would then direct his runners to retrieve the proceeds in cash and turn them over, often after deducting a payment for their services.
Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Francis’s home on January 11, 2019, and seized business and financial records, money transfer receipts, and two electronic devices.
The indictment charges Francis with 11 counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, as well as substantive counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count of wire and mail fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, and mail fraud, and up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the three money laundering charges.
The United States is seeking a money judgment of at least $313,370.03, an amount equal to the proceeds of the crimes charged. The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the Department of Homeland Security-Office of Inspector General, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel K. Jones.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case highlights the importance of being vigilant when dealing with unsolicited calls or emails, particularly those that claim to be from the IRS or other government agencies. It also underscores the need for law enforcement agencies to work together to combat complex and sophisticated crimes like this one.
The investigation and prosecution of Francis are a testament to the dedication and expertise of the law enforcement agencies involved, and we commend their efforts in bringing this case to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Cybercrime|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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