Miami Resident Pleads Guilty in Identity Theft Tax Fraud Scheme Involving the Sale of a Tax Refund Check

A Miami resident pled guilty for his involvement in an identity theft tax fraud scheme involving the sale of a tax refund check.

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, and Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), made the announcement.  

Torrace Wilson, 32, pled guilty to one count of theft of government funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 641 and 2.

According to court documents, on August 27, 2014, Wilson met with a cooperating defendant. During the meeting, Wilson sold a United States Treasury tax refund check in the name of another individual in the amount of $4,443 to the cooperating defendant for a negotiated price of $1,800. Wilson endorsed the back of the check with the name of the victim. He knew that the victim did not authorize him to possess or sell the check.

Wilson is scheduled to be sentenced on November 30, 2016 before United States District Judge Darrin P. Gayles.  At sentencing, the defendant faces up to ten years in prison.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and IRS-CI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vanessa S. Snyder.

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.