George Ronzell Fyke, 40, of Woodlawn, Tenn., was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Nashville, Tenn., for aggravated identity theft and stealing government funds, announced David Rivera, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. Fyke was charged with five counts of aggravated identity theft and five counts of theft of government funds.
According to the indictment, Fyke used the identities of deceased individuals to file false federal income tax returns. As a result of these fraudulent tax filings, it is alleged that Fyke caused the Department of Treasury to issue federal income tax refunds, which he stole and converted to his own use.
Fyke faces a mandatory term of two years in prison for each aggravated identity theft conviction and a maximum term of ten years in prison for each theft of government funds conviction. Fyke also faces fines of up to $250,000.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan R. Raybould of the Middle District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Gregory P. Bailey of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
An indictment is merely an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
