Woman Sentenced To 34 Months In Prison For Aggravated Identity Theft Scheme

JUNE 28, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact Bailey Drumm

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                              at (410) 209-4885

WOMAN SENTENCED TO 34 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR AGGRAVATED IDENTITY THEFT SCHEME

Used the Personal Information of Victims to Perpetrate a Fraud Scheme

Greenbelt, Maryland – On June 26, 2017, U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Michelle Renee Marshall, 47, of Washington, D.C., to 34 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for aggravated identity theft and wire fraud. Marshall was also ordered to pay $27,671.03 in restitution.

The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Stephen M. Schenning; and Special Agent in Charge Kimberly Lappin of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division, Washington, D.C. Field Office.

According to court documents, September 2013 and September 2014, Marshall represented to six different victims that she could assist them in preparing and filing federal and state tax returns. She then obtained the victims’ personally identifiable information, which she used to prepare and file their tax returns. However, the victims never received the requested tax refunds. Without authorization from the victims, Marshall instead directed tax refunds into bank accounts she controlled.

In total, Marshall intended to obtain $67,713 from the IRS and the states of Maryland and Virginia. Marshall did, in fact, obtain $27,671 through this scheme.

Acting United States Attorney Stephen M. Schenning thanked the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. Mr. Schenning commended Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin B. Pulice and Leah J. Bressack who prosecuted the case.