A six-person conspiracy to use stolen identities and file false tax returns has landed six individuals in Alabama in hot water, with a superseding indictment charging them with a laundry list of crimes.
According to court documents, Antoinette Djonret, Angelique Djonret, Tabitha Stinson, Melba Wilson, Chantresa Hayes, and Corey Means conspired to file over 800 false tax returns, requesting a whopping $1.2 million in refunds. The scheme allegedly involved recruiting individuals to purchase prepaid debit cards, which the defendants then used to deposit the tax refunds.
The indictment alleges that Antoinette Djonret obtained the stolen identities from Alabama state databases, and that she and her sister Angelique filed the false tax returns using these identities. The returns were often directed to prepaid debit cards, with many filed from Antoinette Djonret’s residence.
Special agents with the IRS-Criminal Investigation division led the investigation into the scheme, with Jason H. Poole and Michael Boteler of the Justice’s Tax Division, and Assistant United States Attorney Todd Brown, prosecuting the case.
Prosecutors say the defendants face maximum prison terms of 10 years for conspiracy to file false claims, 5 years for each false claims count, 10 years for theft of government funds, 15 years for access device fraud, 10 years for possession of unauthorized access devices, and 2 years for aggravated identity theft. They also face fines and mandatory restitution if convicted.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. But if convicted, the scheme is expected to cost them dearly.
The case is being prosecuted by the Justice’s Tax Division, with additional information available at www.justice.gov/tax.
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Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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