3 Florida Residents Charged with Identity Theft and Government Theft

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida:

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the unsealing of a 16-count indictment  charging Deborah Pierre (31, Haines City), Billy Altidor (28, Wellington), and Evanie Louis (26, Wellington) with conspiracy to commit theft of government property, theft of government property, and aggravated identity theft. Each faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for each theft charge, 5 years’ imprisonment on each conspiracy charge, and a minimum mandatory consecutive penalty of 2 years for the aggravated identity theft charge. The indictment also notifies the individuals that the United States is seeking a money judgment of $91,749.30, the proceeds of the alleged conspiracy.

According to the indictment, Louis and Altidor conspired among themselves, and with others, to commit stolen identity refund fraud. The conspirators used stolen identities to file false tax returns and then directed the fraudulently obtained tax refunds to be deposited into accounts that they controlled. In addition, they activated debit cards and bank accounts using the stolen identities and received the fraudulently claimed tax refunds in those accounts.

Louis, Alitdor, and Pierre also conspired among themselves, and with others, to use stolen identities to access the MySocialSecurity system and redirect Social Security benefit payments to accounts controlled by the conspirators.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Department of the Treasury Office of the Inspector General. It will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Huyler.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the unsealing of a 16-count indictment  charging Deborah Pierre (31, Haines City), Billy Altidor (28, Wellington), and Evanie Louis (26, Wellington) with conspiracy to commit theft of government property, theft of government property, and aggravated identity theft. Each faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for each theft charge, 5 years’ imprisonment on each conspiracy charge, and a minimum mandatory consecutive penalty of 2 years for the aggravated identity theft charge. The indictment also notifies the individuals that the United States is seeking a money judgment of $91,749.30, the proceeds of the alleged conspiracy.

According to the indictment, Louis and Altidor conspired among themselves, and with others, to commit stolen identity refund fraud. The conspirators used stolen identities to file false tax returns and then directed the fraudulently obtained tax refunds to be deposited into accounts that they controlled. In addition, they activated debit cards and bank accounts using the stolen identities and received the fraudulently claimed tax refunds in those accounts.

Louis, Alitdor, and Pierre also conspired among themselves, and with others, to use stolen identities to access the MySocialSecurity system and redirect Social Security benefit payments to accounts controlled by the conspirators.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Department of the Treasury Office of the Inspector General. It will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Huyler.