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Plantation Resident Sentenced to Prison for Stolen Identity Tax Fraud
A Plantation resident has been sentenced to prison for his role in a brazen stolen identity tax fraud scheme. Sean Lyons, 29, was handed a 34-month prison sentence, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $79,459.
Lyons was found guilty of possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(a)(3), and aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A(a)(1).
According to court documents, in May 2014, Lyons participated in a tax fraud scheme in which he received fraudulently obtained United States Department of Treasury tax refunds into accounts linked to prepaid debit cards over which he had control. The tax refunds were filed in the names of other individuals, and the prepaid debit card accounts were registered using the names and Social Security numbers of those same individuals, without their knowledge and authority.
During the course of the scheme, Lyons had in his possession at least 73 prepaid debit cards that had been registered in the names and Social Security numbers of other individuals, without the individuals’ knowledge or authority. Several of the debit cards had been funded through direct deposit with fraudulently obtained Treasury tax refunds.
U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the IRS-CI and the Plantation Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tonya R. Long.
Lyons’ sentence is a stark reminder of the consequences of engaging in such egregious crimes. His actions not only caused financial harm to the victims but also compromised their personal information and identity.
The case serves as a warning to those who would seek to exploit the tax system for personal gain. The authorities will continue to work tirelessly to identify and prosecute those who engage in such activities.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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