Tampa Restaurant Owner Cooks Up Identity Theft Scheme

TAMPA, FL – Melissa Hayes, a Tampa woman running a local food business, is facing serious time after pleading guilty today to conspiracy to commit theft of government property. The scheme involved cashing in on the identities of others – including the deceased – to line her own pockets. United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announced the guilty plea, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.

The operation, as laid out in the plea agreement, was a brazen grab for government funds. Hayes didn’t work alone; she conspired with others to deposit United States Treasury checks – fraudulently endorsed with the names of victims and her business – into a bank account linked to her restaurant. Once the funds were deposited, Hayes swiftly withdrew the cash, using it for personal purchases, transfers to her personal account, or simply distributing it amongst her co-conspirators.

What makes this case particularly galling? Four of the individuals whose names appeared on those deposited checks were already dead. Hayes and her crew exploited the system, preying on vulnerable identities, and showing a callous disregard for the victims and the integrity of the U.S. Treasury. The sheer audacity of using deceased individuals’ refunds speaks volumes about the depth of their criminal intent.

Between January and June of 2012, Hayes managed to deposit a staggering 22 fraudulent checks, totaling over $160,000, into her business account. This wasn’t a few stray checks; it was a systematic, months-long operation designed to steal government funds. The money wasn’t used to improve her business, but rather to fund a lifestyle built on deception and stolen identities.

The Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) painstakingly investigated the case, uncovering the intricate web of fraud. Their work, coupled with the prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorney Kelley C. Howard-Allen, brought Hayes to justice. This case serves as a stark warning: exploiting the tax system and stealing from the government will not go unpunished.

Hayes now awaits sentencing, where she’ll likely face the full weight of the law. While $160,000 may seem like a drop in the bucket to some, it represents a significant loss of taxpayer money and a violation of public trust. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing when it is announced.