Daytona Beach Resident Sentenced To Federal Prison For Tax Fraud And Identity Theft

Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan today sentenced Shawne Butler (51, Daytona Beach) to 42 months in federal prison for filing fraudulent tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service and for aggravated identity theft.  He pleaded guilty on March 4, 2016.

According to court documents and facts presented at his sentencing hearing, Butler devised a scheme whereby he stole identities from state prison inmates and used them to file fraudulent tax refunds. Over the course of approximately two years, Butler filed 188 fraudulent tax returns and received $207,908 in refunds, which he deposited into his bank account.

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