Delaware Man Sentenced To 46 Months For Role In False Tax Refund Conspiracy

WILMINGTON, Del. - Charles M. Oberly, III, United States Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Festus Frimpong, age 19, of Newark, Delaware, was sentenced today by the Honorable Leonard P. Stark, United States District Judge for the District of Delaware, to 46 months imprisonment and full restitution.  The defendant pleaded guilty to violations of 18 U.S.C. § 286 (False Claims Conspiracy) and 18 U.S.C. § 1029(a)(3) (Access Device Fraud), in May, 2014.  The defendant is a citizen of Ghana, and he faces deportation at the conclusion of his term of imprisonment.

The defendant participated in a tax fraud conspiracy involving the filing of more than 300 false individual federal income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service, using stolen identities.  The investigation uncovered more than 1,000 potential victims.  The returns sought refunds of more than $1.7 million.  The defendant’s role in the conspiracy involved receiving and distributing stolen identity information, including names, addresses, dates of birth, and social security numbers to other co-conspirators.  The defendant also opened bank accounts to receive the proceeds of refunds generated by the false tax returns.

U.S. Attorney Oberly gave the following comments:  “It is gratifying to see the United States District Court, Judge Stark, hand down a sentence of nearly four years of incarceration. Defendants like Mr. Frimpong deserve such sentences and subsequent deportation when applicable. The American public, the ultimate victims in schemes like this need to know that defendants who engage in activities such as this will be prosecuted as felons and incarcerated. This District is committed to vigorously prosecuting defendants like Mr. Frimpong.”

This case is the result of an ongoing investigation conducted by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Welsh.