Source: United States Attorneys General
Headline: Antioch, Tennessee Woman Sentenced To Six Years In Prison For Stolen ID Refund Fraud
An Antioch, Tennessee, woman was sentenced today to six years in prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
Monique Ellis was convicted following a jury trial in October 2017 of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. According to documents filed with the court and evidence presented at trial, in January and February 2012, Monique Ellis used stolen IDs, including those of prisoners held by the Alabama Department of Corrections, to file tax returns with the IRS seeking fraudulent refunds. Ellis directed the fraudulently obtained refunds to bank accounts that she controlled, causing a tax loss of $700,933.20.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge Gershwin A. Drain ordered Ellis to serve three years of supervised release. Restitution will be determined at a later date.
This investigation was conducted by the IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry Leventis and Trial Attorney Lauren Castaldi of the Tax Division prosecuted the case.