Oakland Resident Charged In Identity Theft Scheme

OAKLAND – Robert Thomas Doyle made his initial appearance today in federal court on charges of mail fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Melinda Haag and IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge José M. Martinez.

According to the indictment, from about January 15, 2013, to March 28, 2013, Doyle, of Oakland, knowingly and intentionally devised a scheme to obtain money by false and fraudulent pretenses by preparing and filing false federal income tax returns with the IRS. The tax returns contained materially false representations, including filing status, dependents, income, and credits.

As part of the scheme, Doyle allegedly obtained the identification of individual taxpayers through illegal means or by agreement. He recorded the names and personal identifying information used in the scheme on spreadsheets and electronically filed false federal income tax returns using those identities. He also requested refunds from the IRS to which the taxpayers listed on the tax returns were not entitled. According to the indictment, Doyle also requested that the IRS transmit the fraudulent refunds in a manner that ensured he would be able to exercise control over the refunds.

Doyle is charged with filing eight tax returns claiming refunds totaling $29,364. He made his initial appearance this morning before the Honorable Kandis A Westmore, United States Magistrate Judge in Oakland and was released on a 50K bond. Doyle is scheduled to appear next on March 6, 2014, at 9:30 a.m. in front of Judge Westmore.

The maximum statutory penalty for each count of mail fraud and wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C § 1341 and 1343, is 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The maximum penalty for aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C § 1028A, is two years in prison, consecutive to the underlying felony and a fine of $250,000.

Assistant US Attorney Thomas Moore is prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.

Please note that a criminal complaint contains only allegations against an individual and, as with all defendants, Robert Thomas Doyle, must be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

(Doyle indictment )