A Pembroke Pines, Florida, couple has pleaded guilty to using stolen identities to file more than 700 returns for tax years 2009 through 2011. Godfrey and Gittens pleaded guilty to one count of a multi-object conspiracy to defraud the United States, commit wire fraud and commit aggravated identity theft, one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of access device fraud. Each faces a maximum of 22 years in prison on the combined charges.
Gittens owned and operated 2G Inc., a tax return preparation business that has operated since 2006, and G&G Check Cashing Inc. The Department of Justice release reporting the plea did not state the source of stolen IDs. However, it did state the two recruited a co-conspirator, identified only as Brown, to obtain an Electronic Filing Identification Numbers in his name in order to file the returns prepared by 2G.
The couple directed Brown to set up companies and bank accounts in his name in order to negotiate refund checks. Godfrey and Gittens also possessed an identification card printer, a credit card embosser, hologram stickers for driver's licenses and credit cards and blank credit cards.
Each faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and three years of supervised release for the conspiracy charge, and a maximum of two years in prison and one year of supervised release for the aggravated identity theft charge and a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and three years of supervised release for the access device fraud charge.
Godfrey and Gittens must serve the two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft in addition to any sentence the court imposes on the other charges. Each faces a fine of up to $250,000.