Florida seems to be the hub of a certain type of criminal activity in recent years. Identity theft is a type of white collar crime that some say has reached epidemic proportions in the state. Out of every 100,000 residents in Miami, more than 300 claimed to be a victim of stolen identity in 2013 and 2014.
In a recent tax fraud scheme, four persons have been convicted in federal criminal court of stealing more than $100,000 from the Internal Revenue Service by using false identities. A woman who was part of the scheme reportedly obtained the identities through the patient information files of a medical service provider. She and the others are said to have used the information to file multiple fraudulent tax returns.
Three of those named in the case above are slated to appear for sentencing, facing possible prison terms of up to 20 years in some instances. The case is said to be one of 25 being investigated by an identity theft task force in Florida. As in all criminal cases throughout the nation, those accused of identity fraud have the right to retain legal representation in preparation of court proceedings.
Being accused of white collar crime in Florida or elsewhere — whether at the state or federal level — has the potential to cause long-lasting negative effects on a person’s private and business reputation. Anyone accused of such activity is presumed innocent unless proved guilty in court. Consultation with an experienced legal professional is one way to determine what options might be available in order to prepare a defense strategy and pursue as positive an outcome as possible in a case.
Source: watchdog.org, “Identity Fraud Epidemic”, Larry Benson, Aug. 31, 2015
