Brandon Man Sentenced To 30 Months For Stolen Identity Refund Fraud Conspiracy

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara has sentenced Aaron Stanley (48, Brandon) to two years and six months in federal prison for conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. The Court also ordered him to make restitution to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $203,887.10, which constitutes the proceeds of the offenses.

Stanley pleaded guilty on March 9, 2017.

According to court documents, in 2011, Stanley and others used the proceeds of stolen identity refund fraud to purchase three vehicles from Rodriguez Auto Wholesale in Tampa. Stanley and his conspirators used debit cards loaded with fraudulently obtained tax refunds to purchase money orders that they used to purchase a Cadillac Escalade, an Infiniti SUV, and a Chevrolet Camaro. The false and fraudulent tax returns filed by the conspirators using stolen identities resulted in the conspirators receiving $203,887.10 in fraudulently obtained tax refunds.

The owner of Rodriguez Auto Wholesale, Raymond Rodriguez, pleaded guilty to money laundering and was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison on March 28, 2017. Stanley’s co-defendant, Charmeta Bess, who participated in the purchase of the Cadillac Escalade, was sentenced to five years’ probation on February 24, 2017.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mandy Riedel.