Memphis, TN - Jeremy Lasane, 25, of Cordova, TN, was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for stealing government funds through the filing of false income tax returns and identity theft, announced Edward L. Stanton III, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.
According to the indictment and information revealed at sentencing, between September 4, 2009 and Oct. 28, 2011, Lasane and other individuals obtained the names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers of individuals without their knowledge or consent, and thereafter filed taxes claiming refunds using this information. He and others then opened bank accounts and directed the U.S. Department of Treasury tax refunds associated with the false tax returns to be electronically deposited into these accounts.
Lasane paid individuals to obtain the victims’ personal identifiers and used this information to electronically file more than 240 false tax returns. This criminal behavior enabled him to fraudulently obtain over $700,000 during the scheme. The investigation revealed that during his scheme, Lasane spent large sums of money at Tunica casinos and bought several luxury vehicles, including a Maserati and Mercedes-Benz. These vehicles were forfeited to the United States Government.
Chief District Judge Jon P. McCalla ordered Lasane to pay restitution in the amount of $791,616 and further ordered him to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and IRS-Criminal Investigative Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hall on behalf of the government. #
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
