Florida’s Rashia Wilson noted in IRS report of identity theft which rose 66%
A new IRS report noted the thousands of criminal investigations into identity theft from tax returns and more specifically, made mention of the Florida case which garnered national attention.
According to the new report, the Internal Revenue Service started 1,492 criminal investigations of the use of tax returns to commit identity theft in the year that ended Sept. 30, a 66 percent increase, the agency said today.
The tax filing season is right around the corner and
new IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said curbing identity theft is a priority for the agency.
The IRS said the number of recommendations for prosecution and sentencings increased in 2013. Investigations totaled 276 in fiscal 2011 and 898 in fiscal 2012.
Most notable is the Rashia Wilson case, which involved $2.2 million in assets according to the IRS. Marterrance Holloway was also a mastermind in the tax fraud ring and received nearly ten years in federal prison for his role in the conspiracy.
Maurice Larry was Wilson’s boyfriend and had been sentenced to more than eight years in one case and more than 14 years in another tax fraud case. Both sentences are being served concurrently. Wilson is serving more than 21 years.
Some lawmakers and the national taxpayer advocate have criticized the IRS’s approach to handling identity theft. They say victims often don’t get enough assistance and that it can take too long to restore their accounts.
Check out the full drama of the Rashia Wilson HERE
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