Corrupt Public Health Employee Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Extensive Identity Theft and Tax Fraud Scheme

BATON ROUGE, LA –United States Attorney Walt Green announced that a former public health employee with the Ascension Parish Health Unit was recently sentenced to federal prison for her involvement in an extensive identity theft and tax fraud scheme. 

U.S. District Court Judge James J. Brady sentenced TA’SHA THOMAS, age 26, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, last week to thirty-six (36) months in federal prison for stealing and selling the social security numbers of over 425 people.  The social security numbers were used to obtain over $464,000 in fraudulent tax returns from the United States Treasury.  The defendant was also sentenced to a 3-year term of supervised release and ordered to pay $464,764 in restitution.

On June 22, 2015, the defendant pled guilty to access device fraud and aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1029(a)(2) and 1028A.  Her convictions resulted from her theft of the personal identifying information of over 425 individuals from a database used by her employer, the Ascension Parish Health Unit, over a six month period in 2012.  The defendant sold this information to Mona Hill, who in turn used the information to file fraudulent federal tax returns.  

Thomas is one of four defendants to be charged in connection with this scheme.  The following is the status of the other three defendants:

• Mona Hill, age 34, of Plaquemine, Louisiana, has been sentenced to sixty-five (65) months in federal prison and to pay $491,268.18 in restitution to the IRS.

• Cameron Butler, age 33, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has pled guilty to receiving stolen government funds.He is awaiting sentencing.

• Shonda V. Johnson, age 42, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has pled guilty to receiving stolen government funds.She is awaiting sentencing.

U.S. Attorney Green stated: “It seems like this defendant, together with the others involved in the scheme, sought to cover the world of white collar crime: public corruption, identity theft, stealing government money, and false tax documents.  Today’s prison sentence reflects the results of those efforts.  I greatly appreciate the excellent work of IRS Criminal Investigations and the prosecutor in this important matter.  We will continue to work with our partners to root out fraud and corruption wherever found.”

“We are pleased with today's sentence of Ms. Thomas.  The protection of taxpayers’ identities and personal information is an integral part of our agency's mission.” said Jerome R. McDuffie, Special Agent-in-Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation.  “Special Agents of IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to aggressively work with the United States Attorney's Office to protect taxpayers’ interests and thoroughly investigate fraudulent tax refund schemes. The message this case sends is clear: participation in those schemes, and the theft of personal identifying information, does not and will not pay; and those who do so will be investigated and prosecuted."

This matter was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M.P. Thornhill and investigated by the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division.