Wolf Obin, Stolen Identity Tax Fraud, Florida 2017

MIAMI, FL – In a blow to tax scammers, Wolf Obin, 32, and his associates have been convicted of orchestrating a stolen identity tax fraud scheme in Southern Florida.

According to evidence presented in court, Obin, along with his co-defendants Stanley Moscova, 28, and Rosny Muller, 29, fraudulently obtained Electronic Filing Identification Numbers (EFINs) in the names of other individuals who acted as ‘straw’ EFIN holders. This allowed the defendants to submit tax returns in the names of other individuals.

The defendants then used those EFINs, as well as EFINs in their own names, to file fraudulent federal income tax returns with the IRS using the stolen personal identifying information (PII) of other individuals without their knowledge and authority.

Through their tax filings, the defendants claimed approximately $2,300,000 in fraudulent federal tax refunds from the IRS. Law enforcement discovered the PII of more than 1,600 individuals during a search warrant of the defendants’ Aventura apartment.

The defendants were convicted of one count of conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claims, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 286, and one count of possession of fifteen or more unauthorized access devices, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(a)(3). Obin and Moscova were also convicted of three counts of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A.

The defendants face up to 10 years in prison for each of the conspiracy and access device charges, and 2 years’ imprisonment, consecutive to any other prison term, for the aggravated identity theft charges. Sentencing is scheduled for January 4, 2017, before Judge Donald L. Graham.

U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the IRS-CI and the Aventura Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. Langley and Luis M. Perez.

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