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Atlanta Man Charged in Nationwide Identity Theft Scheme
A federal indictment has been unsealed against Qadir Shabazz, 38, of Atlanta, Georgia, for his role in a nationwide identity theft scheme that targeted prisoners in prisons across the country.
According to the indictment, Shabazz, through his business ‘Indigent Inmate,’ distributed literature and applications to prisoners, telling them that if they submitted their names, social security numbers, and dates of birth, they would be eligible for prisoner benefits. Over 13,000 prisoners submitted applications, but Shabazz used their personal information to file over 2,000 false federal income tax returns that claimed over $12 million in fraudulent refunds.
Shabazz and others working with him used addresses in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee that were under their control to file the false tax returns. The indictment charges Shabazz with conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service, 15 counts of wire fraud, 15 counts of aggravated identity theft, and two counts of theft of government funds.
Each wire fraud count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, each theft of government funds count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and the conspiracy count carries a maximum sentence of 5 years of incarceration. The aggravated identity theft charges carry at least one mandatory two-year consecutive sentence to any other sentence imposed.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges, and Shabazz is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Georgia Department of Revenue, Office of Special Investigations.
Mandatory Facts: Defendant Qadir Shabazz, exact criminal charges of conspiracy to defraud the IRS, 15 counts of wire fraud, 15 counts of aggravated identity theft, and two counts of theft of government funds, Atlanta, Georgia, November 5, 2013, no sentence or outcome provided.
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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