Patrice Taylor, Tax Fraud, Georgia 2015

Patrice Taylor Pleads Guilty to Filing Over 1,100 Fraudulent Tax Returns

Ashburn, GA - In a shocking case of tax fraud, 33-year-old Patrice Taylor has pleaded guilty to filing over 1,100 fraudulent tax returns. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Taylor conspired with her husband, Antonio Taylor, and Jarrett Jones to file the false returns between January 2011 and February 2013.

As part of her plea agreement, Taylor admitted to using stolen identities to file the returns, including the data of 14 real people. She also used a cell phone subscribed to her to call the Internal Revenue Service's Automated Electronic Filing PIN Request 114 times between January 2012 and October 2012.

One of the returns filed by Taylor was her own fraudulent federal income tax return, which requested a refund of $6,776. She claimed a dependent that she was not authorized by law to claim.

“We are seeing an alarming amount of identity theft across the country. We will use every resource at our disposal to make sure that those who use stolen identities to file phony tax returns and steal money end up with an identification form unique to them – one issued by the federal prison system,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Moore.

The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, assisted by the Ashburn Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jim Crane is prosecuting the case for the Government.

Patrice Taylor faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, or both, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She also faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 2 years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a maximum fine of $250,000, or both, for aggravated identity theft.

Taylor's sentencing is scheduled for a later date. Questions concerning this case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.

Defendant Name: Patrice Taylor

Exact Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft

City and State: Ashburn, Georgia

Exact Date: February 11, 2015

Sentence or Outcome: Patrice Taylor pleaded guilty; sentencing scheduled for a later date

Dollar Amounts: $6,776

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/woman-pleads-guilty-filing-over-1100-fraudulent-tax-returns