34 Defendants Charged With Conspiracy To Commit Fraud In Battle Creek

          GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Miles, Jr., announced today that a federal grand jury returned an Indictment charging 34 defendants for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to defraud the IRS through the filing of false tax forms, mostly through using other people’s identification information. The charges result from a joint investigation led by the IRS, Veterans Affairs – Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Department of Homeland Security, Battle Creek Police Department, Albion Police Department, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department, and Michigan State Police.

          The Indictment alleges that the defendants utilized other individuals’ personal identification information (PII)—obtained in part from patients and employees of the Battle Creek Veterans Affairs Medical Center and from inmates of the Michigan Department of Corrections—to file false tax returns. In total, the Indictment alleges that for tax years 2007 through 2014, the co-conspirators, led by lead defendant DERRICK J. GIBSON, filed at least 4,668 federal income tax returns claiming false, fictitious, and fraudulent refunds totaling over $22 Million.

          "In a modern world in which personal identification information can be acquired in various ways and misused, and where government funds are growing ever scarcer, my office will continue to lead investigations into cases where identification information was misused as a tool to commit tax fraud," said US Attorney Miles. "My office will bring to justice those willing to misuse other people’s identification information, often victimizing them, in order to steal money from the government."

          Special Agent in Charge Jarod J. Koopman, IRS-Criminal Investigations, added: "The American tax system is designed to provide important services to the American people. It will not be used as the personal piggy bank for thieves and those who assist them. The allegations in this case show a blatant disregard of the law. The filing of false returns is notoriously disruptive to those whose information was misused without their knowledge and to the IRS’s mission. This indictment is the direct result of the hard work and dedication of numerous law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s office to protect the American public and the principles of this country."

          The alleged roles of the defendants are detailed in the Indictment, unsealed Monday, as part of initial court proceedings. Twenty-four of the defendants have been arrested on the charge so far. The individual named defendants, all from Battle Creek, are listed below.

• DERRICK J. GIBSON, 52
• CHARMICA GRIFFIN, 44
• STEPHANIE T. BAKER, 34
• LATIA M. WILLIAMS, 41
• ALVIN E. STEPHENSON II, 46
• SANDRIA M. BLAKLEY, 34
• EDWARD WARDEN, JR., 47
• CHANEL MCCLENNEY, 35
• DARWIN GIBSON, 25
• BOBBY CRABTREE, 45
• DEQYNN GIBSON, 24
• DARRIEN GIBSON, 25
• ROCHELLE R. VELASQUEZ, 29
• SCHERRIE MCNUTT, 35
• DEVOINE GIBSON, 51
• PRENTIS H. GIBSON, 74
• LAMONT JOYNER, 25
• SHAMEIKA N. CARR-MCCLENNEY, 33
• CHARLEETA CORK, 39
• KEITH CORK, 41
• MAIYA R. JACKSON, 21
• SHAWN MCKNIGHT, 36
• DAVID HAYMER, 48
• DIALLO DOTSON, 42
• ROMELL BOLDEN, 25
• LABRISHA PORTER, 23
• KYPREE TAYLOR, 22
• ROSEMARY BOYD, 53
• PATRICIA RIDDLE-MCCLINTON, 60
• JOSEPH JEREMY JOHNSON, 29
• KISHA N. EVANS, 36
• RASHALL FORD, 47
• SIMONE WATKINS, 47 and
• ROMARO CARSWELL, 45.

         Each defendant faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000, if convicted.

          The public is reminded that the charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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