Montgomery, AL – A Phenix City resident and former Alabama state employee has been sentenced to serve more than 7 years in prison for her role in a stolen identity tax refund fraud ring.
Tamika Floyd (30), a former employee of the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Department of Human Resources, was sentenced to 87 months in prison and ordered to pay $3,092,885 in restitution.
Floyd pleaded guilty on October 2, 2014, to one count of conspiracy to file false claims and one count of aggravated identity theft. Her co-conspirators, including Keisha Lanier, Tracy Mitchell, Latasha Mitchell, Talarious Paige and others, pleaded guilty on April 1 and are scheduled to be sentenced on August 7.
According to court documents, Floyd stole the names and personal information of individuals, mostly teenagers, from her state agencies positions between 2006 and 2014. She provided the information to Lanier, who used it to file false federal income tax returns. Lanier then provided the stolen information to other co-conspirators, who filed more than 3,000 fraudulent federal income tax returns claiming over $7.5 million in tax refunds.
U.S. Attorney George L. Beck Jr. and Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo commended the special agents of Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and the prosecutors who are handling the case.
The case is a prime example of the devastating consequences of identity theft and tax refund fraud. It is a reminder that those who engage in such activities will be held accountable for their actions and will face severe penalties.
The investigation and prosecution of this case were a collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Tax Division. The case highlights the importance of collaboration and coordination in combating complex and sophisticated crimes.
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Related Federal Cases
- Phenix City Duo Indicted for $2.5M Tax Fraud Scheme · Alabama
- Con man Walker Pleads Guilty in Identity Theft Scheme · Alabama
- Phenix City Doc Pleads Guilty to Pill Mill Scheme & Money Laundering · Alabama
- Montgomery Woman Accused of Stealing Tax Refunds by Identity Theft · Alabama
- Alabama Family Sentenced in $1.9M Identity Fraud Scheme · Alabama
Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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