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Press Release

Alabama Man Indicted in Stolen Identity Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

For Immediate Release
Office of Public Affairs

Deundra Milhouse was indicted for his role in a stolen identity refund fraud crime, Assistant Attorney General Kathryn Keneally of the Justice Department's Tax Division and U.S. Attorney George L. Beck Jr. for the Middle District of Alabama announced today after the indictment was unsealed following Milhouse’s arrest. 

 

Milhouse was charged with one count of access device fraud, three counts of wire fraud, four counts of aggravated identity theft and two counts of theft of public funds.  According to the indictment, Milhouse filed and caused to be filed false federal income tax returns using the identities of other individuals.  He then directed the refunds claimed on those returns to be deposited into accounts linked to prepaid debit cards and into an account at a credit union, from which Milhouse would then withdraw the fraudulently obtained refunds in cash.

 

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, Milhouse faces a statutory maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison for the wire fraud count, a statutory maximum potential sentence of 10 years in prison for each theft of public money count and a mandatory two-year sentence for the aggravated identity theft counts.  Milhouse is also subject to possible fines, forfeiture and mandatory restitution if convicted.

 

This case was investigated by special agents of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office.  Trial Attorneys Jason Poole and Michael Boteler of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Brown and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama. 

Updated September 15, 2014

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Press Release Number: 14-086