U.S. Department
of Justice
Bloomington Man Sentenced To More Than Nine Years In Prison For Conspiring To Use Stolen Identities To Defraud The United States For Millions Of Dollars
United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger today announced the sentencing of AYOTOMIDE AJIFOWOBAJE, 29, to 110 months in prison for using the stolen identities of more than 450 victims to file false tax returns throughout the United States. AJIFOWOBAJE pleaded guilty on July 24, 2015, to conspiracy to defraud the United States and aggravated identity theft. He was sentenced yesterday before U.S. District Judge Joan N. Ericksen in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minn.
“Ayotomide Ajifowobaje’s case highlights how seriously IRS Criminal Investigation and the United States Attorney's Office take the issue of identity theft,” said Special Agent in Charge Shea Jones of the St. Paul Field Office IRS Criminal Investigation. “We will continue to investigate those who prey on innocent taxpayers to steal their identities and file false tax returns. IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to bringing these perpetrators to justice.”
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, between at least May 20, 2014, and February 17, 2015, AJIFOWOBAJE purchased stolen personal identifying information, including names, addresses, dates of birth, and social security numbers, of hundreds of individuals. Using the stolen identities of these victims, the defendant and his co-conspirators “washed” stolen identities to determine whether a legitimate tax return had already been filed by the victim taxpayer. If none had already been filed in the victim’s name, AJIFOWOBAJE would create and electronically file a fraudulent tax return using the victim’s correct identity information but containing false W-2 information, withholding amounts and other fraudulent information. AJIFOWOBAJE then set up fake email addresses to track the status of the return and expected refund.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, for the purpose of collecting the refunds from the IRS, AJIFOWOBAJE purchased hundreds of debit cards and activated them using the same stolen identities that he used to file false tax returns. In an effort to conceal his identity from law enforcement, AJIFOWOBAJE and his co-conspirators filed some of the false tax returns from hotels using free Wi-Fi.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle E. Jones.
Defendant Information:
AYOTOMIDE AJIFOWOBAJE, 29
Bloomington, Minn.
Convicted:
-
Conspiracy to defraud the United States, one count
- Aggravated identity theft, one count
Sentenced: