Jury convicted defendant in scheme to file false tax returns for hundreds of unwitting victims, netting more than $900,000 Date: May 5, 2022 Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov Jehoaddan Wilson was sentenced in federal court today to 81 months for filing false tax claims, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in a tax fraud scheme that caused losses of $902,040, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Special Agent in Charge Mark H. Pearson. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Jon S. Tigar. Wilson, of Brentwood, was convicted by a federal jury on September 28, 2021, of five counts of filing a false tax claim, five counts of wire fraud, and five counts of aggravated identify theft. Trial evidence demonstrated that Wilson obtained personal identifying information from scores of unsuspecting individuals through lies and misrepresentations and then filed fraudulent tax returns in their names. Evidence presented at trial showed Wilson perpetrated her scheme by obtaining victims' Social Security numbers either by manipulating them into providing the information under false pretenses or by obtaining their Social Security numbers without their knowledge. Wilson then filed tax returns in each victim's name that contained false information and that fraudulently claimed a tax refund. In each return, Wilson requested the tax refund be deposited between at least two bank accounts, one or both of which were Wilson's personal bank accounts. In sum, Wilson filed fraudulent tax returns for people without their knowledge or consent that caused the federal government to pay tax refunds not owed and to deposit those refunds into bank accounts controlled by Wilson. At trial, one victim testified that she provided her personal identifying information to Wilson with the understanding that Wilson, who presented herself as a legitimate tax preparer, would assist in filing her tax return. Unbeknownst to the victim, Wilson made numerous false statements about the victim's employment, expenses, and income in the tax return which fraudulently claimed a tax refund. Wilson also requested, without the victim's knowledge or consent, that approximately half of the tax refund be deposited into Wilson's bank account. In another instance, an elderly woman fell victim to Wilson's scheme when Wilson or one of her associates visited the woman's retirement community and convinced her to provide her identifying information to obtain free money from an alleged federal government "Obama Stimulus" plan. Wilson used the personal information to file a tax return on the elderly woman's behalf and without her knowledge. The tax return, replete with false information, generated a fraudulent tax refund, and Wilson directed approximately half of the refund into her own bank account. Wilson victimized a third person, according to trial evidence, by obtaining the victim's identifying information and filing a false tax return in his name while he was incarcerated and without his knowledge, again enriching herself. Wilson exploited a fourth and a fifth victim using a similar pattern of obtaining their identifying information, filing false tax returns in their names without their knowledge or consent, and causing portions of the tax refunds to be deposited into her bank accounts. Evidence presented at trial also established that search warrants executed at Wilson's home and office turned up numerous additional documents containing identifying information of victims, including copies of driver licenses and Social Security cards. In its memorandum filed for sentencing, the government described that Wilson's fraud was so pervasive that in just one tax year – 2011 – she victimized approximately 388 people. Her fraudulent tax claims caused a loss to the federal government of $902,040 in that tax year alone. United States District Judge Jon S. Tigar also ordered, in addition to the 81 months imprisonment, that Wilson pay restitution in the amount of $902,040. The sentence included a three year period of supervision for Wilson following her release from prison. Wilson was remanded into custody at the end of the sentencing hearing and begins serving her sentence immediately. Robert David Rees and Kristina Green are the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who prosecuted the case, with the assistance of Jasmine Sanders, Claudia Hyslop, and Leeya Kekona. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by IRS-CI.
