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Press Release

Richmond Man Charged With Cashing U.S. Treasury Checks Using Stolen Identities

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of California

OAKLAND – A federal grand jury indicted Hugh Robinson with theft of public money and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Melinda Haag and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge José M. Martinez.

According to the indictment, on March 18, 2014, Robinson, a resident of Richmond, Calif., used the stolen identities of others to cash U.S. Treasury checks.  The U.S. Treasury checks cashed by Robinson were payments of tax refunds and/or Social Security benefits to which Robinson was not entitled.  In the indictment, Robinson was charged with three counts of theft of public funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641, and three counts of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A.  Robinson has been arrested and is currently detained.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, the defendant faces 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641 as well as 2 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A. The 2-year terms for identity theft violations would be served consecutive to the underlying felony. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Newman and Jose A. Olivera are prosecuting the case.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.

Updated May 11, 2015