Gainesville Woman Sentenced To Federal Prison On Identity Theft And Fraud Charges

Jacksonville, FL - U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan sentenced Regina Ward (31, Gainesville) yesterday to 13 months’ imprisonment for charges related to identity theft, fraud against the United States, and Treasury check fraud. Ward was also ordered to serve a 3-year term of supervised release following her incarceration, and to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $6,500.

According to court documents, in February 2012, Ward met with an undercover agent (UC) posing as an individual willing and capable of cashing United States Treasury checks without proper identification. Ward presented the UC with a Treasury check in the amount of $12,727.81, in the name of another individual. Ward negotiated a check cashing fee with the UC and advised that she had other checks that she needed to cash. Ward sold the Treasury check to the UC for $6,500.

Later that same month, Ward met with the UC again and attempted to cash two additional Treasury checks. During the meeting, Ward sold ten stolen identities for the purpose of filing fraudulent federal income tax returns. Specifically, Ward provided names, social security numbers and dates of birth for ten individuals. She also provided drivers’ license numbers and Turbo Tax pin numbers from prior years for some of the individuals. She sold these identities for $850 each.

The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase.