Orlando, FL Acting United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow announces that a federal jury today found Trayone Lefferio Bell guilty of one count of fraudulent possession of access devices (credit card), two counts of theft of government money, and three counts of aggravated identity theft. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for each of the first three counts, followed by two years in federal prison for the aggravated identity theft counts. His sentencing hearing has been set for January 4, 2018. Bell was indicted on Dec. 21, 2016.
According to evidence presented at trial, Bell used stolen names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers to file false 2011 federal tax returns. The fraudulent returns requested that the refunds be issued via prepaid debit cards in the victims names. Bell obtained the cards and used them in a series of large cash withdrawals and purchases.
This case was investigated by the St. Cloud Internal Revenue Service-Secret Service Financial Crimes Task Force, which includes representatives from the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, the St. Cloud Police Department, the Osceola County Sheriffs Office, the Brevard County Sheriffs Office, the Palm Bay Police Department, the Casselberry Police Department, the Kissimmee Police Department, the Winter Park Police Department, and the Maitland Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily C. L. Chang.
--DOJ Middle District of Florida
Source: U.S. Secret Service