Tampa Man Convicted For Receiving Stolen Government Property

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury today found Charvester Anthony guilty of five counts of receiving stolen government property. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 18, 2015. Anthony was indicted on February 13, 2014.

According to testimony presented at trial, Anthony, who owned and operated two restaurants in Tampa, also conducted a fencing operation by cashing a series of stolen U.S. Treasury income tax refund checks and subsequently depositing them into his business and personal bank accounts. Most of the refund checks were obtained by means of fraudulent income tax returns that were filed using stolen identities. All of the checks bore forged signatures.  According to the evidence presented at trial, Anthony knew that the checks were stolen when he cashed them, and consequently charged huge fees for doing so.    

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bob Mosakowski.