Related Federal Cases
Income Tax Fraud Scheme Lands Texas Woman Behind Bars
A 39-year-old Melissa woman, Demetrice Hodges, has been sentenced to 65 months in federal prison for her role in an income tax fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.
Hodges, who pleaded guilty on May 10, 2018, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft charges, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant on January 24, 2019. In addition to her prison sentence, Hodges was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $343,824.59 to the Internal Revenue Service and to forfeit $8,000 as proceeds of the wire fraud conviction.
According to information presented in court, Hodges was involved in a scheme to defraud individuals by conspiring with others to obtain money and property by false pretenses in 2016. As part of the scheme, Hodges coordinated with another individual in purchasing personal identifying information that was used to electronically file income tax returns using the stolen identifiers. Hodges was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 13, 2017.
U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown weighed in on the case, stating, "Income tax fraud and identity theft cause great financial harm to the U.S. Treasury and significant personal harm to individuals and their financial and credit status." He emphasized the dedication of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Internal Revenue Service, and the IRS to investigating and prosecuting cases involving identity theft and fraud.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Gibson.
Hodges’ sentence serves as a reminder of the consequences of engaging in income tax fraud schemes and the importance of protecting one’s personal identifying information.
As the investigation and prosecution of such cases continue, the public is reminded to be vigilant and take steps to protect themselves from falling victim to identity theft and tax-related scams.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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