July 27, 2015

Three Defendants Pled Guilty in Extensive Identity Theft Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.

Brandi Mary Janice Stroman, 30, of Oakland Park, and Dezman Dunbar Zama, 34, of Fort Lauderdale, each pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title l8, United States Code, Sections 1343, 1344, 1349 and 1028A. Stroman also pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, in violation of Title l8, United States Code, Sections 1341 and 1349. Jerrod Dashon Bosket, 26, of Orlando, pled guilty to one count of unauthorized use of an access device and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, Sections 1029(a)(2) and 1028A.

According to court documents, from March 2012 through August 2012, Stroman obtained the bank account information of Zama, Jerrod Bosket, and co-defendant Cornelius Craig Bosket, 32, of Fort Lauderdale. Stroman then provided the bank account information to another individual who filed false tax returns using the personally identifiable information (PII) of patients of a medical services provider. The fraudulent refunds from these tax returns were deposited into one of the bank accounts controlled by Zama, Jerrod Bosket, Cornelius Bosket, or others. After the money was deposited into the account, Stroman contacted the co-defendants and directed them to withdraw the funds. During the course of the conspiracy, at least 27 false returns were filed requesting $105,313 in fraudulent refunds. Each one of the 27 false returns listed one of the defendant’s bank account numbers.

Court documents also state that a member of the conspiracy obtained the names, social security numbers, and bank account numbers of three other individuals. A member of the conspiracy transferred or attempted to transfer $62,000, $92,716, and $135,482.46, respectively, from these three individuals’ bank accounts into a bank account controlled by Stroman or Zama. Stroman and Zama then withdrew or attempted to withdraw the transferred funds. Four fraudulent tax refunds in the name of incarcerated individuals were also deposited into Stroman’s bank account.

Defendants Zama and Jerrod Bosket are scheduled to be sentenced on September 23, 2015, and defendant Stroman is scheduled to be sentenced on October 7, 2015, all before United States District Judge William J. Zloch. All of the defendants face a mandatory term of two years in prison, consecutive to any other term of imprisonment, for the aggravated identity theft charge. Stroman and Zama also face a maximum of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy to commit wire fraud charge and a maximum of 30 years in prison for the conspiracy to commit bank fraud charge. Stroman also faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy to commit mail fraud charge. Jerrod Bosket faces a maximum of ten years in prison for the access device charge.

Trial is scheduled to begin on July 28, 2015 for co-defendant Cornelius Craig Bosket.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Identity Theft Strike Force, with special commendation to IRS-CI and the FBI. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia R. Wood.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.