Rany Smith, a 48-year-old Tampa man also known as “Abdelmajid Wahbi,” is headed to federal prison for 45 months after pleading guilty to aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Charlene E. Honeywell handed down the sentence today in Tampa, closing the book on a multi-layered scheme built on stolen identities and systemic deceit.
Court records reveal Smith, originally from Morocco, targeted fellow North African immigrants, stealing their personal identifying information to vanish into false personas. He used those identities to conceal a prior felony conviction and land management positions at businesses across Tampa and South Florida. Once inside, he exploited his authority—creating and paying ghost employees, then pocketing their wages as his own criminal salary.
But the ghost payroll was just one arm of his operation. Smith also opened lines of credit using victims’ names, charging thousands in goods and services from merchants nationwide. He left behind a trail of unpaid debts and shattered credit, with underwriting banks absorbing tens of thousands in unrecovered losses. These weren’t random scams—they were calculated strikes on financial systems and everyday people trying to build lives in a new country.
“This criminal stole the identities of other immigrants and used those identities to shield himself from being held accountable for illegal activities,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero. “He victimized the immigrants whose identities he stole, Florida retailers and online merchants, and the U.S. taxpayers.”
The investigation was a joint effort by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations – National Security Division, the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. Each agency peeled back layers of aliases and financial forgeries that Smith used to stay hidden for years.
Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Gerard prosecuted the case, ensuring Smith could no longer exploit the identities of others. The 45-month sentence sends a message: in the underground economy of stolen names and phantom paychecks, the feds are watching—and they’re closing in.
Related Federal Cases
- Miami Dade Students, Target Employees Plead Guilty in Identity Theft Tax Fraud Scheme · Florida
- Francois Accused of Identity Theft Tax Fraud · Florida
- Hollywood Felon Siler Sentenced for Identity Theft Tax Fraud · Florida
- Miami Man Pleads Guilty in Identity Theft Tax Fraud · Florida
- Miami Man Sentenced in Identity Theft Tax Fraud Scam · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
