Biomat USA Employee Sentenced on Identity Theft Charges
| U.S. Attorney’s Office January 23, 2014 |
Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced that Bridgette Williams, aged 31, of Macon, Georgia, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge C. Ashley Royal on Thursday, January 23, 2014, to serve six months’ imprisonment in a case of conspiracy to commit fraudulent claims, identity theft, and receiving stolen government property. Ms. Williams was also ordered to make restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
Ms. Williams entered a plea of guilty to the charges on April 18, 2013. As part of her plea agreement, Ms. Williams admitted that she was an employee of BioMat USA, a facility where individuals donate blood plasma for compensation. From January to June 2012, she obtained the personal identification information for more than 130 BioMat USA clients and transferred that information to co-conspirators. The co-conspirators would then create false W-2 forms using the personal information and file false income tax returns in the names of the clients. Ms. Williams’ address was used as the address on the false tax returns. Refund checks were mailed to her at that address. Ms. Williams admitted that the total amount of fraudulent tax returns wrongfully obtained from BioMat USA was $191,985. The total amount of fraudulent refunds actually issued by the Internal Revenue Service was $23,879.86.
“Identity theft is an increasing problem. Those who engage in this type of criminal activity should know that it will be investigated and prosecuted with increased vigor,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Moore.
“The Treasury Office of Inspector General is proud to be a part of this joint effort to combat theft and fraud against the United States Treasury and will continue to support these types of investigations along with our law enforcement partners,” said John L. Phillips, Assistant Inspector General for Investigations.
“IRS-Criminal Investigation will remain proactive in the investigation of individuals and groups who commit crimes and ruin the lives of innocent citizens,” stated IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Veronica F. Hyman-Pillot. “Today’s sentence clearly demonstrates that taking advantage of, manipulating, and stealing from the American people will not be ignored or go unpunished.”
“The United States Secret Service will continue to collaborate with its law enforcement partners to target and arrest individuals who steal from unsuspecting victims. Those nefarious individuals ultimately affect us all,” said Reginald G. Moore, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Atlanta Field Office.
The investigation of the case was a joint effort by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Secret Service, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, U.S. Treasury Office of Inspector General, and Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Graham A. Thorpe.
Inquiries regarding the case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.