OAKLAND - Robert Thomas Doyle was sentenced today to 51 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $142,031 for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Melinda Haag and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Acting Special Agent in Charge Thomas McMahon.
Doyle, 64, of Oakland, pleaded guilty on Feb. 23, 2015. According to the plea agreement, during 2011, 2012, and 2013, Doyle implemented an identity theft and tax fraud scheme in which he caused the filing of a number of tax returns claiming fraudulent refunds. As part of his scheme, Doyle, a certified public accountant until 1987, created false businesses and claimed false income and expenses for his clients in order to maximize the Earned Income Tax Credit. The fraudulent income and expenses led to a larger-than-allowed claimed refund. Doyle did not ask his clients about any income earned or current or past employment history. Doyle also used the names and social security numbers of former clients to prepare and file false tax returns without these victims' knowledge or consent. On many of the tax returns, Doyle directed the refunds to be mailed to addresses where he could retrieve them or have the refunds electronically deposited into bank accounts that he controlled. Doyle was indicted on Feb. 20, 2014, with two counts of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341; six counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343; and eight counts of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A.
The sentence was handed down today by the Honorable Jon S. Tigar, United States District Judge. Following his release from prison, the defendant will be required to serve three years of supervised release, and pay restitution in the amount of $142,031. The defendant will begin serving his sentence on October 5, 2015.
Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Moore and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Tolkoff are prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
