Montgomery, Alabama - Angeline Austin, 41, of Troy, Alabama, was arraigned Tuesday, June 12, 2012, on a Twenty-Two Count Indictment alleging that she stole people identities, announced U.S. Attorney, George L. Beck, Jr. Count One of the Indictment alleges that Austin conspired with others to defraud the United States. In doing so, Austin was employed with Southern Records Management, Inc., and was assigned to work at Troy Hospital. Austin used her position at Troy Hospital to obtain over eight hundred names, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth (“the identifiers”) of patients of Troy hospital. Austin then sold those identifiers to another person, who used those identifiers to prepare fraudulent tax returns that were then filed with the Internal Revenue Service. From those fraudulently prepared tax returns, Austin and others received fraudulent tax refunds. These refunds were sent Austin and her co-conspirators on prepaid debit cards. The conspirators then used Automated Teller Machines to retrieve the refunds from the prepaid debit cards. The indictment alleges that Austin would receive $1,500.00 for every one hundred names she sold.

Counts Two through Eight allege that Austin transferred, possessed, or used, without lawful authority, the identification of other people, with the intent to commit theft of government property, and that she and another person obtained a thing of value aggregating $1,000 or more during any 1-year period. Counts Nine through Fifteen allege that Austin exceeded her authorized access to the computer system of Troy Hospital, and by doing so she furthered the fraud of identity theft. Counts Sixteen through Twenty-Two allege that, in relation to the allegations of computer fraud, Austin transferred, possessed, and used, without lawful authority, the means of identification of other people.

“Identity theft can ruin a person’s life by ruining their credit and ruining their entire financial situation,” stated U.S. Attorney George L. Beck, Jr. “This office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who seek to make money from stealing people’s identities. If you believe you may have been a victim of these alleged crimes, and would like to stay current on the developments of this case or learn more about your rights as a victim, please visit our website at www.justice.gov/usao/alm or contact our victim hotline at 866-699-0840.”

If convicted, Austin faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison on Count One of the Indictment; a maximum sentence of fifteen years on Counts Two through Eight; a maximum sentence of five years on Counts Nine through Fifteen and mandatory minimum sentence of two years on Counts Sixteen through Twenty-Two.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney W. Brent Woodall is prosecuting the case.

 

PRESS CONTACT: Clark Morris
Email: usaalm.press@usdoj.gov
Telephone: (334) 551-1755
Fax: (334) 223-7617

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