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Three Men Indicted in Tax Refund Scam
Fort Myers, Florida – In a shocking case of tax refund fraud, three men have been indicted on federal charges of filing fraudulent tax returns related to identity theft. Desmond Holden, Kinjonah Coston, and Octavis Jones face a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison for each of the conspiracy and theft of public money offenses, and a consecutive minimum sentence of two years’ imprisonment for each aggravated identity charge.
According to the indictment, the trio participated in a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal income tax refunds by preparing and filing false tax returns in the names of people whose identities they had stolen. The defendants obtained the victims’ Social Security numbers and other identifiers, and then directed the money from the fraudulent refunds to be deposited onto debit cards or money orders, which they would convert to their personal use.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. The indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States intends to forfeit all assets, which are alleged to be traceable to the proceeds of the offenses.
The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, with assistance and cooperation from the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Douglas Molloy.
The indictment charges the three men with conspiracy to prepare fraudulent tax returns, theft of public money, and aggravated identity theft. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison for each of the conspiracy and theft of public money offenses, and a consecutive minimum sentence of two years’ imprisonment for each aggravated identity charge.
Desmond Holden, Kinjonah Coston, and Octavis Jones have been charged with a total of eight counts, including conspiracy, theft of public money, and aggravated identity theft. The indictment is a serious blow to the individuals involved, and it highlights the importance of protecting personal identity and financial information.
The case serves as a reminder to the public to be vigilant and protect their personal information from falling into the wrong hands. It is also a testament to the dedication and hard work of law enforcement agencies, who work tirelessly to investigate and prosecute crimes like this.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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