A brazen scheme to cash fraudulently obtained large-dollar tax refund checks has landed a Miami resident in prison for six years.
Silvio Galvez, Jr., 30, of Miami, was sentenced to 72 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for his involvement in a stolen identity refund fraud scheme.
Between 2013 and 2014, co-conspirators submitted hundreds of fraudulent tax returns to the IRS using stolen personal identity information, requesting over $50 million in large-dollar tax refunds. The refunds, ranging from $130,000 to $170,000 each, were paid out by the IRS, with approximately $4.3 million being mailed to various Miami addresses connected to the scheme.
Galvez, knowing the returns were fraudulent, furthered the scheme by cashing the checks at check cashers and banks. He also recruited a bank employee to open accounts using stolen identity information to deposit the checks.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael N. Berger. Benjamin G. Greenberg, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, commended the investigative efforts of the IRS, FBI, and ICE-HSI.
Galvez previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft of government money and one count of aggravated identity theft.
The case is a reminder of the importance of protecting personal identity information and the devastating consequences of stealing it.
Related Federal Cases
- Jermaine Winters, Tax Refund Fraud and Identity Theft, Chipley FL, … · Florida
- Adrianne Marta Frazer, Tax Refund Fraud, Phoenix AZ, 2023 · Arizona
- Sean Anthony Lopez, $5.4M Tax Refund Fraud, Miami FL, 2023 · Florida
- Andy Lamour, Identity Theft Tax Refund Fraud, Miami FL, 2023 · Florida
- Freddie Howard, Tax Refund Fraud Scheme, Davie FL, 2023 · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News