Broward County Resident Charged for Participation in Stolen Identity and Tax Fraud Schemes Involving at Least 652 Identities

A Broward resident was charged for her participation in stolen identity and tax fraud schemes involving at least 652 stolen identities.

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and Dwayne Flournoy, Chief, Hallandale Beach Police Department (HBPD), made the announcement.

Laveisha Dorray Charles-Coldros, 30, of Miramar, Florida, was charged with one count of possession of fifteen or more unauthorized access devices, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(a)(3), one count of using one or more unauthorized access devices, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1029(a)(2) and 2, and four counts of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A(a)(1).  If convicted, Charles-Coldros faces a maximum of ten years in prison for each of the access device charges, and a mandatory term of two years’ imprisonment, consecutive to any other prison term, for the aggravated identity theft charges.

According to court documents, during a vehicle search where Charles-Coldros was the sole occupant, a Hallandale Beach Police Department officer found mail addressed to numerous individuals and a large duffel bag with multiple pieces of paper and notebooks that contained the names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers of approximately 652 different individuals.

IRS-CI Special Agents interviewed numerous individuals whose PII was found in the duffel bag. The individuals did not authorize Charles-Coldros to have their names, date of births, and Social Security numbers in her possession, and did not authorize a tax return be filed in their names.  Another individual did not authorize Charles-Coldros to have a debit card in his/her name.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CI, United States Secret Service, and the Hallandale Beach Police Department, and thanked Federal Protective Service for its assistance in this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia R. Wood.   

An indictment is merely an allegation, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.