A Houston couple faces multiple years in prison after stealing 50,000 identities, and using them to obtain debit cards and tax refunds.
The crimes occurred between January 2014 and May 2015. The couple first used the stolen identities to apply for and obtain 230 debit cards. They then used the same identities to apply for fraudulent tax refunds.
The two were hoping to total $1.9 million in tax refunds – and were in fact able to make $250,000 in profit from their scheme. However, the IRS was able to stop a majority of their transactions.
Charges include conspiracy, possession of at least 15 unauthorized access devices, access device fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Sentencing for Tom Emasealu and Kyrstal Prophet is expected to take place any day.
