Hammond Man Sentenced for Stolen Identity Refund Fraud

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that DARRELL HARLAND, age 32, of Hammond, Louisiana, was sentenced today for stolen identity refund fraud.

U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced HARLAND to 32 months imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and ordered HARLAND to pay $65,168 in restitution to the IRS.

According to court documents, on May 3, 2012, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office (STPSO) executed a search warrant at HARLAND’s residence.  In the home, deputies found evidence of identity theft, including lists of names and social security numbers.  HARLAND told deputies that he had purchased the stolen identities online.

At the request of the STPSO, the IRS determined that several of the stolen identities found in HARLAND’s residence had been used to file what appeared to be fraudulent tax returns.  The IRS interviewed several of the individuals whose identities had been used and confirmed that these individuals had not given HARLAND the authority to file tax returns in their names and that all income and dependent information on the tax returns was false.  IRS records show that HARLAND caused approximately $65,168 in loss to the IRS by filing fraudulent tax returns with stolen identities.

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the Internal Revenue Service in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney G. Dall Kammer is in charge of the prosecution.