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Press Release

North Miami Beach Resident Pleads Guilty for his Participation in a Stolen Identity Tax Fraud Scheme

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida

A North Miami Beach resident pled guilty for his participation in a stolen identity tax fraud scheme.

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Rafiq Ahmad, Special Agent in Charge, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations Miami Office (DOL-OIG), Jesse Panuccio, Executive Director, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), and J. Scott Dennis, Chief, North Miami Beach Police Department (NMBPD), made the announcement.

Daiman Williams, 23, pled guilty to one count of possession of fifteen or more unauthorized access devices, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(a)(3), and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A(a)(1). At sentencing, Williams faces a maximum statutory sentence of ten years in prison for the access device charge, and a mandatory term of two years’ imprisonment, consecutive to any other prison term, for the aggravated identity theft charge.

According to court documents, on or about January 18, 2013, a state probation compliance check was performed on Williams at his residence in North Miami Beach, FL. During the compliance check of Williams’ residence, officers found a Toshiba laptop that contained a list of personal identifying information (PII). A forensic examination of the laptop revealed a series of documents containing over two thousand (2,000) pieces of PII, which included the names, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth for hundreds of school teachers and medical patients. In addition, credit reports, tax returns, and other miscellaneous PII were found in the laptop.  Further investigation revealed that several of the individuals identified from the laptop had been victims of identity theft related to the fraudulent filing of their federal income tax returns.

On or about August 26, 2014, another state probation compliance check was performed on Williams at his residence.  In connection with the compliance check, law enforcement searched Williams’ phone and found a video of the defendant holding a firearm and then storing the firearm in the trunk of a white Lexus vehicle.  The vehicle was found in the driveway of Williams’ residence.  Officers opened the trunk of the vehicle and discovered the firearm, ammunition and PII for more than 50 individuals, including names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers of homeowners’ insurance applications and completed income tax forms.

The intended loss to the government was $643,205.

Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on March 17, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. before United States District Judge Federico A. Moreno.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DEO, and the NMBPD.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Miesha Shonta Darrough.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

Updated January 7, 2016

Topic
Identity Theft