Georgia Woman Sentenced to Prison for Her Role in a Stolen Identity Refund Fraud Scheme

An Atlanta, Georgia resident was sentenced to 24 months in prison today for her role in a stolen identity refund fraud scheme, announced Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney John A. Horn for the Northern District of Georgia.

According to documents and information provided to the court, Shamil Dean, 36, allowed bank accounts that she controlled to be used to receive more than $135,000 in fraudulent refunds. These refunds were generated from tax returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the names of individuals whose identities were stolen.

In addition to the term of prison imposed, Dean was ordered to serve one year of supervised release. Dean will also be ordered to pay restitution to the IRS, in the amount to be determined by the court within 90 days. Dean pleaded guilty in February to aggravated identity theft.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg and U.S. Attorney Horn commended special agents of IRS–Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys David Zisserson and Charles M. Edgar Jr. of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alana Black of the Northern District of Georgia, who prosecuted this case.

Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.