A Millbrook woman could face up to 354 years behind bars and more than $6 million in fines after being convicted Friday of identity theft, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to make false claims for tax refunds, according to the Justice Department and the IRS today.According to the Justice Department, Janika Fernae Bates of Millbrook, a former employee of Electronic Data Systems, conspired to use identification information of individuals who borrowed student loans that she illegally obtained while at work in order to steal money from the government.
Testimonies concluded that the victims did not give permission to Bates to use their names and Social Security numbers on tax returns, nor did they receive any money generated by the false tax returns.
Keshia Brayboy, Bates' co-conspirator, pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return in 2009 and testified at trial. According to a Justice Department news release, she fraudulently obtained refund anticipation loans from the HSBC bank on the fraudulently filed tax returns.
Bates is facing a prison sentence of at least two years and up to a maximum of 354 years with up to $6.25 million in fines.
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