Yumeitrius Manuel, Tax Conspiracy Involving Stolen Identity Refund Fraud, Alabama 2012

A tax preparer from Montgomery, Ala., has been sentenced to federal prison for filing false tax returns using stolen identities.

Yumeitrius Manuel, a resident of Montgomery, Ala., was sentenced on May 8, 2012 in the Middle District of Alabama to 81 months in federal prison for filing false tax returns using stolen identities, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced.

Manuel pleaded guilty on Jan. 11, 2012 to charges of conspiracy to defraud the government and aggravated identity theft. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 27, 2011 on charges of conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, and false claims.

According to court documents, Manuel and his co-conspirator, Margaret Kirksey, each owned and operated a tax preparation business in Montgomery, located in the same physical place. The two fraudulently inflated tax refunds by placing false information on their clients’ tax returns. They also filed tax returns in the names and Social Security numbers of individuals who did not know about, and did not authorize, the filing of tax returns on their behalf. Both Manuel and Kirksey admitted that their respective crimes involved over $1 million in tax loss and more than 50 victims of identity theft.

Kirksey also pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and to aggravated identity theft, and was sentenced on May 8, 2012 to 81 months in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Mark E. Fuller also ordered Manuel to pay $52,242 in restitution to the IRS.

Kathryn Keneally, Assistant Attorney General for the Tax Division, commended the investigative efforts of IRS-Criminal Investigation special agents, who investigated the case, and Tax Division Trial Attorneys Justin Gelfand and Jason Poole, who prosecuted the case.

Manuel and Kirksey’s crimes involved the use of stolen identities to file false tax returns, resulting in a significant loss to the IRS and harm to numerous individuals.

The case highlights the importance of vigilance in protecting one’s identity and the severe consequences of engaging in tax-related crimes.

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