PITTSBURGH - Four Georgia residents have been sentenced in federal court by United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Darrell Jerome Ryles, 56, of Dalton, Ga., was sentenced to 48 months incarceration followed by four years supervised release and restitution in the amount of $67,806.00, on his conviction of wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. According to the information presented to the court, Ryles and others conspired to steal identities of other persons and inmates at correctional centers in Georgia which were used to electronically file unauthorized federal tax returns between 2010 and 2012. The tax returns sought tax refunds which were paid to Ryles and other conspirators in the false tax return scheme.
Beverly J. McHenry, 57, of Rome, Ga., was sentenced to probation for five years and restitution in the amount of $92,742.11, on her conviction of wire fraud conspiracy; Astrid P. Perry, 37, of Summerville, Ga., was sentenced to time served of 15 months incarceration, plus three years supervised release and restitution in the amount of $37,416.74 on her conviction of wire fraud conspiracy; and Heather A. Smith, 26, of Summerville, Ga., was sentenced to probation for five years and restitution in the amount of $98,331.41 on her conviction of wire fraud conspiracy. According to the information presented to the court, McHenry, Perry and Smith conspired to use stolen identities to file false federal 2010 and 2011 federal income tax returns requesting refunds payable to conspirators into banks and credit unions in Pittsburgh and Georgia.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, for the successful prosecution of these defendants.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
