U.S. Department
of Justice
Tallahassee Man Indicted For Tax Fraud
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA– Kraig Antonio Davis, 23, of Tallahassee, Florida,was arraigned in federal court today on charges of filing false tax claims, aggravated identity theft, and mail fraud. The indictment was announced today by Pamela C. Marsh, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
The five-count indictment alleges that between January and July 2011, Davis filed false claims for federal tax refunds using personal identifying information stolen from taxpayers. Davis is alleged to have used the stolen personal identifying information to submit applications for prepaid debit cards to be used to deposit the fraudulently obtained refunds.
Davis is scheduled for trial on April 1, 2013 before United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle.
If convicted, Davis faces a maximum of ten years in prison on each count of mail fraud, up to five years in prison for filing false claims, and a mandatory term of two years’ imprisonment for aggravated identity theft. The mandatory two-year sentence must be served consecutively to any other sentence that may be imposed in the case.
U.S. Attorney Marsh praised the work of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service — Criminal Investigations, whose joint investigation led to the indictment in the case.
- The case is being prosecuted as part of a Department of Justice initiative to fight stolen identity refund fraud (SIRF). In September 2012, the Department issued Tax Division Directive 144, which sets forth expedited Department review procedures for SIRF cases, enabling law enforcement to respond quickly and effectively to the grave challenges presented in SIRF cases and to prevent the victimization of innocent taxpayers whose identities are stolen by fraudsters.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Winifred Acosta NeSmith.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.