Woman Sentenced For Aggravated Identity Theft Connected To Fraudulent Tax Refund Scheme

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Makaeia Demps to two years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft. The Court also ordered her to make restitution to the IRS in the amount of $13,441. Demps pleaded guilty on March 4, 2015.

According to court documents, in December 2011, Demps was arrested by officers from the Clearwater Police Department. In her possession, they found two debit cards in the names of other individuals. An investigation revealed that the debit cards contained funds that had been obtained as the result of fraudulently filed income tax returns. Further investigation linked Demps to the receipt of refunds generated by the filing of additional fraudulent income tax returns.

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