Wichita Falls Man Sentenced To 63 Months In Federal Prison For Using Stolen Personal Identity Information And Fabricated Documents To Defraud The IRS Of Tax Revenue

WICHITA FALLS, Texas — A local man was sentenced today to 63 months in federal prison and ordered to pay approximately $114,000 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), for using stolen personal identity information and fabricated documents to defraud the IRS of tax revenue, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

Bobby J. Hicks, Jr., who has been in custody since his arrest in June 2014, pleaded guilty in August 2014 to one count of wire fraud. According to information presented in today’s hearing, Hicks is 49-years-old, and according to information presented at his earlier detention hearing, he is most recently a resident of Wichita Falls, Texas.

Hicks ran his scheme, according to the factual resume, from 2009 through approximately mid-February 2011. During that time, according to the document, Hicks submitted 15 fraudulent returns, eleven of which were submitted electronically. The total refund amount claimed in the 15 fraudulent returns was $1,541,424. The total amount of refunds actually issued by the IRS was $198,394.44, of which $114,396.44 was actually transferred.

In one instance, according to the factual resume, in January 2010, Hicks submitted a Form 1040EZ income tax return, claiming a $138,806 refund, in the name of another individual whom Hick had met in 2009 in Wichita Falls and had hired to do day labor. In connection with that labor, the individual had provided Hicks his social security number, but he did not authorize Hicks to use it or to submit a tax return in his name.

It was noted in Hicks’ detention hearing earlier this year, that as part of his scheme, he stole the identities of family members, including the identity of his deceased mother.

The investigation was conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon McCarthy prosecuted.