State Crime Reports

Illinois Woman Pleads Guilty in Stolen Identity Tax Fraud Scheme


Department of Justice Tax Division

ILLINOIS–(ENEWSPF)–January 26, 2017. A former Poplar Grove, Illinois woman pleaded guilty in federal court in Rockford, Illinois this week to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Fardon for the Northern District of Illinois.

According to documents filed with the court, from 2012 through 2014, Shameka Carr, 30, used individuals’ names, social security numbers and dates of birth without their knowledge or consent to file fraudulent income tax returns.  Carr directed the fraudulently claimed refunds to prepaid debit cards and refund checks which she had mailed to addresses in Rockford and its surrounding areas.  Carr admitted to an intended tax loss of $1,026,284.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 2.  Carr faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on the mail fraud count and a two-year mandatory minimum sentence on the aggravated identity theft count.  Carr also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg and U.S. Attorney Fardon commended special agents of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Boone County Sheriff’s Department, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys Michael C. Boteler and John T. Mulcahy of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.

Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.

Source: http://justice.gov

 

 


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