FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A Broward County man has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison for his role in a massive identity theft tax refund fraud scheme.
Jeffrey Martin, 27, was sentenced to 99 months in prison and ordered to pay $197,088 in restitution after pleading guilty to one count each of wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft.
Recommended Videos
Federal prosecutors said a co-defendant, Tobe Kasa, 27, of Charlotte, N.C., worked as a service representative for Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association - College Retirement Equities Fund, a financial services company specializing in providing retirement services to those in the academic, research, medical and cultural fields.
As an employee, Kasa had access to the names, addresses, Social Security numbers and dates of birth of TIAA-CREF clients.
Lyon provided Martin with personal information of more than 500 clients so Martin could file phony tax returns in their names.
Prosecutors allege Lyon pocketed more than $304,000, while Martin got away with more than $5,000.
Lyon was previously sentenced to 72 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $118,000 in restitution.