Brunswick Couple Indicted And Arrested On Identity Theft And Fraud Charges

Jacksonville, FL - U.S. Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces the return of a multi-count indictment charging Estella D. Wright and Dorian D. Wright, both of Brunswick, Georgia, with conspiracy to defraud the government and theft of public money. Estella Wright is also charged with seven counts of aggravated identity theft. The Wrights were both arrested today in Brunswick. If convicted, Estella D. Wright faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison for the conspiracy charge, and for each of the seven theft of public money charges. She faces two consecutive years’ imprisonment for the seven aggravated identity theft counts. If convicted, Dorian Wright faces up to 10 years’ in federal prison for the conspiracy charge and each of the two theft public money charges.

According to the indictment, between March 2007 and April 2010, the Wrights conspired with an inmate in the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections to defraud the Internal Revenue Service through the filing of false federal income tax returns. The alleged conspiracy involved using the names, forged signatures and social security numbers of others. The indictment further alleges that Estella Wright obtained the names and social security numbers through her employment at a temporary staffing agency.

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

The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase is handling the prosecution of this case.