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Tarrish Tellis, Stolen Identity Tax Refund Fraud, Alabama 2023
A former nightclub owner in Montgomery, Alabama, has been sentenced to prison for masterminding a stolen identity tax refund scheme that bilked the U.S. Treasury of over $700,000.
Tarrish Tellis, 38, of Montgomery, was sentenced to serve 223 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $694,366 in restitution. The sentence was handed down on February 14, 2023, in the U.S. District Court in Montgomery, Alabama.
Tellis was convicted by a federal jury on January 14, 2023, of conspiracy to commit theft of public money, theft of public money, and aggravated identity theft. The scheme involved using stolen identities to file false income tax returns, with Tellis recruiting friends and relatives to open bank accounts to receive the tax refunds.
According to evidence presented at trial, Tellis’ co-conspirator, Nakia Jackson, obtained approximately 700 names, dates of birth, and social security numbers from an employee of the Alabama Medicaid State Agency. Jackson provided some of the stolen names to Tellis, who in turn used them to file false income tax returns.
“As evidenced by today’s sentence, individuals like Mr. Tellis, who commit stolen identity theft crimes and in doing so, victimize innocent American taxpayers and brazenly steal from the U.S. Treasury, face lengthy incarceration and substantial financial penalties,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo. “The Tax Division and its law enforcement partners stand ready to vigorously pursue and prosecute these offenders to the fullest extent of the law.”
The case was investigated by the special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Gregory P. Bailey, Charles M. Edgar Jr., and Michael C. Boteler of the Tax Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Brown of the Middle District of Alabama.
Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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