Clearwater Woman Pleads Guilty To Aggravated Identity Theft Relating To Fraudulent Tax Returns

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Makaeia Demps has pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft. She faces a mandatory penalty of two years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.

According to the plea agreement, in late 2011, Clearwater Police arrested Demps. In her possession, they found two debit cards, each of which contained funds that were the results of fraudulently filed income tax returns. They also found her to be in possession of a piece of paper with the names and personal information of two other individuals. Further investigation by the Internal Revenue Service connected the use of the debit cards to a number of transactions involving Demps, including the purchase of a vehicle in October 2011. It also revealed that the amount of fraudulent income tax refunds connected directly to Demps via those identities and debit cards she controlled was approximately $74,000.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Clearwater Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.