The U.S. Department of Treasury tax refund checks ranged in amounts from $4,000 to more than $100,000.

TAMPA – A Tampa man was sentenced to five years in federal prison in connection with a scheme to steal almost $400,000 in income tax refund checks, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida  said.

Taurence Creary, 47, of Tampa, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for conspiracy, receipt of stolen government property, and aggravated identity theft. Creary had pleaded guilty April 5.

According to court documents, Creary obtained a number of genuine federal tax refund checks that had been stolen en route to the intended taxpayers, who were identity theft victims living in the Middle District of Florida. Creary and others then sold or attempted to sell the checks to third parties. The U.S. Department of Treasury tax refund checks ranged in amounts from $4,000 to more than $100,000, with an aggregate value of more than $398,000.

On May 10, U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven sentenced Xavier Williams, Creary’s co-conspirator, to three years in federal prison for his role in the scheme.

U.S. Attorney | Courts | Crime | Tax Refund | Tampabay News

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