Authorities are always investigating cases of fraud and related illicit activities. Typically, headlines about new arrests are about a small number of suspects taken into custody in a particular case. However, recently a notable 25 suspects were charged with tax crime related charges.
All of those charged are understood to be based in South Florida. They are accused of stealing personal information from a variety of people, including students. According to the accusations, they then took that personal data and used it to file fraudulent income tax returns.
The numbers in the case are significant. Almost 14,000 stolen identities were involved, with approximately $36 million worth of false refund claims having been filed. According to authorities, those accused of criminal activity in the case were actually paid a total of $9.5 million by the Internal Revenue Service.
Tax refund fraud costs the U.S. government billions of dollars every year. Crackdowns like this one, with 25 individuals facing charges, show how hard authorities are working to combat that fraud. To get the word out about it, a U.S. attorney held a news conference.
At the news conference, he shone a spotlight on the recent arrests. He wanted to underline how much of a problem it is in South Florida, viewed by some as the capital of such crimes. Additionally, he warned the public about the importance of protecting their personal information.
With authorities so committed to pressing charges against those who commit tax crimes, a defendant will need to build a strong defense. Typically, doing so necessitates retaining an experienced attorney who regularly works with those facing tax crime charges in Florida. Together, the person facing charges and his or her attorney can fight the charges.
Source: Miami Herald, “Feds charge 25 suspects with ID theft, tax fraud in South Florida take-down” Jay Weaver, Apr. 03, 2014
