Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced that Edna Yvonne Orr Goff, 37, of Thomaston, Georgia, entered a plea of guilty on Sept. 12, 2013, to conspiracy to file false federal tax returns and aggravated identity theft before the Honorable Marc T. Treadwell, United States District Judge.
The Indictment charges Ms. Goff with the use of stolen taxpayer identity information which she used to secure false tax returns from the federal government. Ms. Goff admitted to illegally filing income tax returns using taxpayers’ personal identifying information, which included their names and Social Security numbers, without their consent in order to secure the false tax returns for her own use.
The illegal scheme resulted in a total loss of over $100,000.00.
On the conspiracy charge, Ms. Goff faces a maximum sentence of up to ten (10) years confinement and a $250,000.00 fine. The identity theft charge carries a statutory penalty of a mandatory two (2) years imprisonment consecutive to the conspiracy charge, as well as a $250,000.00 fine.
Sentencing is set for Dec. 3, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. before the Honorable Marc T. Treadwell in Macon, Georgia.
“Filing false tax returns and identity theft causes a rippling effect of loss to all law abiding citizens. Those committing these and other crimes will remain a focus of the Department of Justice," said United States Attorney Michael Moore.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charles L. Calhoun.
Inquiries regarding the case should be directed to Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist, United States Attorney's Office at (478) 621-2602.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
