Prison Charity Founder Shabazz Sentenced for ID Theft, $12M Fraud

ATLANTA – Qadir Shabazz, a/k/a Deangelo Moore, a/k/a Deangelo Muhammad, has been locked up for 23 years, one month after orchestrating a massive identity theft and tax refund fraud scheme. The scam, which targeted prisoners across multiple states, involved the fraudulent use of thousands of inmates’ identities to file millions in false income tax returns.

“Shabazz preyed upon prisoners that he promised to help, all in an effort to steal millions from the government,” said U. S. Attorney John Horn. “He thought he could go undetected by using the identities of prisoners, who would not notice tax irregularities, with no regard for the false hope he created for them through his bogus charity. Shabazz will now have an opportunity to better understand the situation of the prisoners he victimized.”

“Misusing his position of trust at Indigent Inmate, Qadir Shabazz stole the identities of unsuspecting prisoners and filed false tax returns in their names,” said Veronica Hyman-Pillot, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation. “Individuals who commit refund fraud and identity theft of this magnitude deserve to be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Today, Mr. Shabazz is held accountable for his criminal actions.”

Paul D. Mezzanotte, Acting U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge of the Charlotte Division stated, “This is a great example of a law enforcement partnership that worked together to unravel a sophisticated Identity Theft scheme that stole prisoner’s identities for personal financial gain. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to be vigilant in disrupting criminal organizations who illegally utilize the nation’s mail system.”

“I commend all of the law enforcement personnel in Pennsylvania and around the country that helped to bring down this well-organized identity theft and tax fraud scam,” said Pennsylvania Department of Revenue Secretary Eileen McNulty. “Qadir Shabazz took advantage of prisoners through this multi-state conspiracy and he victimized all of us by stealing tax dollars.”

According to U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges and other information presented in court: In 2009, Qadir Shabazz started a fraudulent prison charity called Indigent Inmate. The supposed purpose of Indigent Inmate was to provide religious literature and financial assistance to prisoners serving time in state prisons around the country. Shabazz’s employees at Indigent Inmate mailed out thousands of applications for assistance to prisons around the country, and Indigent Inmate received thousands of completed applications back through the mail. Notably, the applications required the prisoners applying for assistance to provide their name, date of birth, and Social Security Number.