BELLEVILLE MAN PLEADS GUILTY
Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on September 1, 2011, Samuel D. Hood II, 58, of Belleville, IL, entered a plea of guilty to an Information charging him with a false claim against the United States and bank fraud, and also entered a guilty plea to an Indictment charging him with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in federal court in East St. Louis.
Sentencing is currently scheduled for December 16, 2011. At his sentencing, Hood faces potential federal imprisonment. Statutorily, the offense of false claim against the United States carries a maximum potential punishment of up to five (5) years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, restitution, and up to three (3) year supervised release; the offense of bank fraud carries a maximum potential punishment of up to thirty (30) years imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, restitution, and up to five (5) years supervised release; the offense of wire fraud carries the maximum potential punishment of up to twenty (20) years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, restitution, and up to one (1) year supervised release; and the offense of aggravated identity theft carries a maximum potential punishment of a two (2) year mandatory imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, restitution, and up to one (1) year supervised release. As part of the plea, Hood admitted to making a false claim against the United States in the form of a 2009 federal income tax return that involved a fraudulent tax refund. Hood also admitted to using the identity of another individual in order to collect funds requested on a fraudulent pay day loan submitted by Hood.
The prosecution in this case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Internal Revenue Service/Criminal Investigations and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Quinley.
If you suspect or know of an individual or company that is not complying with the tax laws, you may report this activity by contacting the local Internal Revenue Service/Criminal Investigation Office at (618) 622-2160 or by mailing information to: Internal Revenue Service, Fresno, CA 93888.
