Tampa Man Sentenced To More Than Five Years In Stolen Identity Refund Fraud Scheme

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Major Dixon to five years and one month in federal prison for his role in a stolen identity refund fraud scheme. As part of his sentence, the Court also ordered him to pay $129,505.33 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. Dixon pleaded guilty on December 11, 2015.

According to court documents, between February and September 2012, Dixon and others filed false and fraudulent income tax returns in the names of others, including deceased individuals. In these fraudulent returns, the conspirators represented that they were entitled to the refunds and requested that the IRS direct the funds to accounts the conspirators had established in their respective names at various local financial institutions.  

Four others were charged and previously pleaded guilty for their roles in this conspiracy. Sonja Lang was sentenced to time served and was ordered to pay $37,158.04 in restitution to the IRS. Rosea Armstrong was sentenced to 36 months’ probation and was ordered to pay $46,641.59 in restitution to the IRS. Arthur Murray was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison and was ordered to pay $19,235.10 in restitution to the IRS. Finally, Lasia Maxwell will be sentenced on June 2, 2016.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.