Conspiracy Netted More Than $1.6 Million in Fraudulent Refunds

            ATLANTA, GA-- KELCEY PIERRE MILLER, 36, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. to federal prison on charges of obtaining more than $1.6 million by filing false income tax returns and aggravated identity theft.

            United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “This defendant led a conspiracy stealing more than $1.6 million by filing fictional income tax returns that claimed enormous refunds using fraudulently obtained personal information of individuals in homeless shelters and jails. He not only victimized the taxpayers, but also preyed on the unsophisticated.”

            IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Reginael McDaniel said, “Tax crimes have been erroneously referred to as victimless crimes, but it is the honest law abiding citizen who is harmed when someone attempts to wreck havoc on the United States tax system. The courts have consistently shown that individuals will be held accountable for the damage caused by tax crimes, and today’s sentencing is a costly reminder for this defendant.”

             MILLER was sentenced to 6 years, 3 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,660,152.  MILLER pleaded guilty to the charges on April 20, 2011.

 

            According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: MILLER and four co-defendants obtained personal identifying information from people in homeless shelters, jails, and other locations, and used that information to file income tax returns with falsely inflated claims for refunds.  The conspirators filed 123 returns between December 2005 and March 2007, and received $1,660,152 in refunds.  Three of MILLER’s co-defendants, RAHMAN HILL, 40, of Mableton, KEITH LAMONE RICHARD, 40, of Decatur, and PETER RAYMOND WILLIAMS, 42, of Passaic, New Jersey, pleaded guilty May 23, 2011, to conspiring with MILLER in filing the false tax returns.  They are scheduled to be sentenced later this month.  The fifth co-defendant charged in the conspiracy, JABBAR IVAN PENDER a/k/a “James Earl Pender,” 40, of Newark, remains in federal custody in New Jersey on other pending charges.

            MILLER also pleaded guilty to the charge of aggravated identity theft, based on his possession of a counterfeit Georgia driver’s license that bore his picture, but another person’s name and identifying information. 

            This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.

            Assistant United States Attorney William G. Traynor prosecuted the case.

            For further information please contact Sally Q. Yates, United States Attorney, or Charysse L. Alexander, Executive Assistant United States Attorney, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney's Office, at (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.

 

 

 

Return to Top