Broward County Resident Convicted at Trial of Stolen Identity Tax Fraud Scheme

Following a trial before United States District Court Judge William P. Dimitrouleas, a jury convicted a Broward County resident for his participation in a stolen identity tax fraud scheme.

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), made the announcement.

Clifford Blain, 28, was convicted of one count of uttering a forged United States Treasury check, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 510(a)(2), one count of bank fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344, and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A. The defendant was remanded into custody following his conviction.

According to evidence presented at trial, Blain deposited a United States Treasury check containing a forged endorsement and signature of another individual into a bank account he controlled. An image of the defendant making the deposit was captured by ATM cameras and introduced during the trial proceedings.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 18, 2016 before Judge William P. Dimitrouleas.  At sentencing, Blain faces up to ten years in prison for the uttering a forged Treasury check charge, thirty years in prison for the bank fraud charge, and two years’ imprisonment, consecutive to any other prison term, for the aggravated identity theft charge.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell Killinger.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.