ID Theft and Tax Refund Scheme
HARRISBURG, PA — Agents from the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation have filed charges against a husband and wife from Georgia, along with a Pittsburgh area man, accused of operating a multi-state scheme to fabricate Pennsylvania state tax returns and apply for bogus refunds by stealing the identities of prison inmates from across the country.
Attorney General Linda Kelly identified the defendants as Qadir Abdul Shabazz, also known as DeAngelo M. Moore, age 36, 1677 Dorsey Ave., East Point, Georgia; Leslie Julian Shabazz, also known as Leslie Julian Scott, age 30, of 2864 Cheney St., East Point, Georgia; and Dion Lee McBride, 36, of 2012 Kendon Drive East, Pittsburgh.
Kelly said the defendants allegedly used the names and social security numbers of approximately 185 prison inmates to fabricate Pennsylvania income tax returns which claimed more than $77,000 in refunds.
“This was an intricate scheme that allegedly used stolen personal information, fabricated employment histories, bogus addresses and numerous debit card accounts and bank accounts to steal money from the taxpayers of Pennsylvania,” Kelly said. “The defendants took elaborate steps to hide their scheme, which remains the subject of an active and ongoing investigation.”
According to the criminal complaint, Shabazz and McBride allegedly used popular tax preparation software to create the fraudulent tax returns. In most cases, the employment information on the tax returns was falsified using the names of “temp agencies” and other businesses – including some of the defendants’ previous employers.
Kelly said refund checks, debit cards and other tax-related correspondence were sent to ‘apartments’ at several addresses in the Pittsburgh area, including a video & game storefront on Brownsville Road called “GamerNation,” another location on Main Street in Sharpsburg that supposedly housed a thrift store, along with Dion McBride’s home on Kendon Drive.
McBride allegedly opened the storefront locations and paid rent using funds that were wire transferred from Georgia by Qadir Shabazz.
“The majority of the funds were electronically deposited into bank accounts or debit card accounts that were opened by the defendants, using the same stolen personal information and fake addresses which were used to create the tax returns,” Kelly said. “Investigators determined that at least 48 refunds were sent to non-existent apartments supposedly located inside a little-used storefront in Sharpsburg where McBride was supposedly operating a thrift store, while nearly 50 more were sent to other fictional apartments at McBride’s residence.
Kelly said that bank records and surveillance video show the defendants using ATM machines in the Pittsburgh area and in Georgia to make numerous withdrawals from the bank accounts shortly after refunds were deposited. Because the ATM withdrawals were typically limited to a maximum of $400 per transaction, the defendants were often required to make multiple visits to banks or ATM’s before emptying the accounts.
“While Qadir Shabazz lived in Georgia, he would allegedly travel to Pittsburgh periodically to meet with McBride and collect the refunds and debit cards that had been mailed to the Pittsburgh locations,” Kelly said. “Over a six-day period in April and May of 2011, Qadir Shabazz allegedly withdrew $53,282 from various debit card accounts using ATM machines in the Pittsburgh area.”
Kelly said that Leslie Shabazz, aka Leslie Scott, is registered in Georgia as the CEO of Indigent Inmate Incorporated – an Altanta-based business which supposedly assists prison inmates who are in financial need.
On April 25, 2012, agents from the Attorney General’s Office, assisted by agents from the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI), executed search warrants at two apartments in East Point, Georgia used by Leslie and Qadir Shabazz. During the course of those searches, agents discovered and seized a file cabinet containing detailed information about prison inmates located in all 50 states.
According to the criminal complaint, investigators were able to identify inmates in prisons from Pennsylvania, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey and South Carolina whose personal information was used to fabricate tax returns.
A March 13, 2011 search of McBride’s residence and the Brownsville Road locations resulted in the seizure of a laptop computer and data storage devices, money order receipts sent to Leslie Shabazz, stacks of letters that had been bundled and wrapped with rubber bands and a loaded .40 caliber handgun.
Qadir and Leslie Shabazz were both taken into custody in East Point, Georgia, on April 25th.
An extradition hearing for Qadir Shabazz is schedule for June 7th and an extradition hearing for Leslie Shabazz is scheduled for May 25th, both in Fulton County, Georgia.
Dion McBride was arrested on April 25th, in Wilkinsburg, and is currently being held in the Allegheny County jail awaiting a preliminary hearing.
Qadir Abdul Shabazz / DeAngelo Marquez Mooreis charged with one count each of criminal conspiracy and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity (money laundering), both first-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to 20 years in prison and $25,000 fines.
He is also charged with one count each of identity theft, computer trespass, access device fraud, theft by deception, aiding the consummation of crime, unlawful use of a computer, criminal use of a communications facility and criminal attempt, all third-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.
Additionally, he is charged with one count of tax fraud, and ungraded misdemeanor.
Dion L. McBrideis charged with one count each of criminal conspiracy and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity (money laundering), both first-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to 20 years in prison and $25,000 fines.
He is also charged with one count each of identity theft, computer trespass, access device fraud, theft by deception, aiding the consummation of crime, unlawful use of a computer, criminal use of a communications facility, criminal attempt and persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms, all third-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.
Additionally, he is charged with one count of tax fraud, and ungraded misdemeanor.
Leslie Julian Shabazz / Leslie Julian Scottis charged with one count each of criminal conspiracy and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity (money laundering), both first-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to 20 years in prison and $25,000 fines.
She is also charged with one count each of identity theft, computer trespass, access device fraud, theft by deception, aiding the consummation of crime, unlawful use of a computer, criminal use of a communications facility and criminal attempt, all third-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.
Additionally, she is charged with one count of tax fraud, and ungraded misdemeanor.
The defendants will all be prosecuted in Allegheny County by Senior Deputy Attorney General William F. Caye II.
Attorney General Kelly thanked the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, Bureau of Tax Crimes Investigation, Pittsburgh District Office; the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI); the East Point, Georgia Police Department; the Fulton County Georgia Sheriff’s Department; and the Wilkinsburg Police Department for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.
(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)
