Tax And Social Security Check Thief Sentenced

Boston - A former Worcester resident was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Worcester today for leading a scheme to steal and launder over $100,000 in government money.

Marvin Lubin, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to one year and one day in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $110,299 in restitution to the federal government. In April 2014, Lubin pleaded guilty to theft of government money.

In early 2013, Lubin and a Florida man, Sniders Jean-Jacques, recruited couriers to open bank accounts in the name of sham businesses. Social Security benefits and IRS tax refund payments, all illegally obtained using stolen identities, were then deposited to the accounts. At the direction of Lubin and Jean-Jacques, cash was immediately withdrawn following each deposit and delivered by the couriers as instructed. All of the money involved represents funds stolen from the United States government.

On October 10, 2013, during the execution of a search warrant of Lubin’s home, law enforcement agents recovered evidence including a debit card associated with one of the sham business bank accounts and a list of 375 names with dates of birth and Social Security numbers. Law enforcement agents interviewed Lubin, who admitted to his role in this scheme.

Five others have pleaded guilty in connection with this scheme, including Jean-Jacques; couriers Juanita Hall, Natalia Santana, and Shantelle Smith; and Emeline Lubin, Lubin’s sister, who stole names and Social Security numbers from her then employer, Tufts Health Plan, and supplied the stolen information to Jean-Jacques for use in the scheme.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; William P. Offord, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; Lisa A. Quinn, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service; Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations; and Worcester Police Chief Gary J. Gemme, made the announcement today. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Landry of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.