Cedar Rapids Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing from the Government and Using Another’s Identity to File a Fraudulent Tax Return

A woman who unlawfully used another person’s identity to file a fraudulent tax return and steal money from the government pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

Gwendolyn Murray, 35, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of one count of theft of government property and one count of aggravated identity theft.

At the plea hearing, Murray admitted she, without lawful authority, used another person’s name, social security number, and signature on a fraudulent tax return she filed in January 2012.  Murray further admitted she then stole from the government by cashing the refund check, worth more than $6,000, issued in March 2012 as a result of the fraudulent tax return.   

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Murray remains free on conditions of release previously set.  Murray faces a mandatory minimum sentence of two years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of twelve years’ imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, $200 in special assessments, and four years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/.  The case file number is 15-CR-0015.

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