Identity Theft News

Leader of Identity Theft Ring Gets 10 Years in Prison Jennifer Robinson, 36, of West Palm Beach, Fla., was recently sentenced to 121 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for her involvement in an extensive identity theft scheme. Robinson had previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to…

Tax Preparer Gets Five Years for Identity Theft Louis A. Francois, 44, of Margate, Fla., was recently sentenced to five years in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release, for his involvement in a stolen identity tax refund (SIRF) scheme. Francois, who had pled guilty to one count of wire fraud and…

Polk man sentenced to 7 years for stealing IDs, filing phony tax returns A 50-year-old Polk County man was recently sentenced to seven years in federal prison for his role in a roughly $400,000 tax-fraud scheme. Norman V. Charlton of Lakeland must forfeit $14,952 that was seized from his residence on March 21, 2012, U.S.…

West Palm woman, leader of identity theft ring, given 10-year sentence A 36-year-old West Palm Beach woman who was the the leader of an identity theft ring has been sentenced to 10 years and one month in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Monday. Prosecutors said Jennifer Robinson, 36, organized a scheme to steal the…

Florida worst for identity fraud for tax refunds MIAMI — Despite efforts by federal officials to crack down on identity theft linked to hundreds of millions of dollars of fraudulently claimed tax refunds, southern Florida continues to lead the nation in such scams. In the latest case, Freddie Howard, 56, of Davie, pleaded guilty on…

2 Florida men indicted in identify theft ST. LOUIS (AP) — Two Florida men are facing federal charges in Missouri of trying to collect more than $2 million in fraudulent federal income tax returns using hundreds of stolen identities. An indictment unsealed Wednesday accuses 24-year-old Terrell Langston of Tallahassee and 24-year-old Montrail Austin of Miami…

Keeping your identity safe during a move Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer — and for many Americans it’s the beginning of moving season. Indeed, summer is the busiest time for movers. College students are moving home for the summer or moving to campus for summer studies. Interns are moving into apartments. Families…

Clinic tries to link patients to lost medical records KANSAS CITY, Mo. —Two days after papers from a Kansas City women’s health clinic, including sensitive documents containing patient medical and financial information, were found blowing around near 63rd Street and Prospect Avenue, the clinic said it’s trying to determine whose records were lost. A passerby…

Former Palm Beach health clerk gets 2 years in federal prison for identity theft WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — A former senior clerk in the Palm Beach County Health Department has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for identity theft involving patient information. A federal judge imposed the sentence last week on 31-year-old…

Your junk mail trash is a thief’s treasure FORT MYERS, Fla. – We call it junk mail but too many people are finding out the hard way that thieves don’t consider it junk at all. They come in the mail everyday: pre-approved credit card offers, notices from your bank or car loan provider. Do you…