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Press Release

Defendant Pleads Guilty In Identity Theft Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida


Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Donnell Young, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Paula Reid, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office, and J. Scott Dennis, Chief, North Miami Beach Police Department, announce that Wadlin Fevrier, 36, of North Miami, pled guilty today to one count of using unauthorized access devices, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(a)(2). Sentencing is scheduled for November 25, 2014. At sentencing, Fevrier faces up to ten years in prison.

According to court documents, a representative from Great Florida Bank contacted law enforcement regarding suspicious ATM activity occurring at various bank branches throughout the Miami area. Specifically, an individual conducted numerous ATM transactions at a particular branch bank between the dates of February 7, 2011 and March 26, 2011. The transactions involved cash withdrawals using different ATM cards and occurred on 19 different days.

During surveillance on March 31, 2011, law enforcement observed Fevrier making four separate ATM transactions using different cards. Law enforcement arrested Fevrier and searched his pockets. Inside his pockets were four Visa debit cards and $1,600.00 in cash. None of the Visa cards were embossed with a name. During a later consent search of Fevrier’s car, officers found 11 additional Visa debit cards. Fevrier admitted to being involved in illegal ATM activity.

Following Fevrier’s arrest, law enforcement subpoenaed the 15 cards found in his possession. There were approximately 27 separate tax refunds loaded onto the cards. These returns were collectively worth $62,580.00.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CI, the USSS, and the North Miami Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John R. Byrne.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

Updated March 12, 2015