Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Northern District of Florida
Friday, Sept. 12, 2014
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TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA - Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced today that Porscha Thomas, 29, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mark Walker to serve 45 months in federal prison. Judge Walker sentenced Thomas to serve 21 months in federal prison for theft of government property, and to a consecutive term of 24 months for aggravated identity theft. Thomas was also ordered to pay $86,402 in restitution.
Thomas’s charges stem from a traffic stop that occurred on February 8, 2012, in the Northern District of Florida. During the traffic stop, officers recovered approximately $52,194.00 in cash, 17 TurboTax debit cards in other people’s names, and receipts showing that those debit cards had been used. Further investigation revealed that fraudulently obtained income tax refunds had been loaded onto the TurboTax debit cards found in Thomas’s possession. Law enforcement was also able to obtain video footage showing Thomas using the TurboTax debit cards at a Publix Grocery Store in Crestview, Florida, and at a Walmart in Pensacola, Florida.
Ms. Marsh credited the successful prosecution of this case to the excellent investigative work and cooperative efforts of all the agencies involved. The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Herbert Lindsey.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
