Man sentenced for claiming $200K in fake tax returns

Daytona Beach man stole identities of prison inmates, authorities say

The U.S. Attorney's Office says a 51-year-old man made more than $200,000 by filing fake tax returns after stealing inmates' identities.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 51-year-old Daytona Beach man was sentenced Monday to more than three years in federal prison for identity theft and filing fake tax returns.

Shawne Butler pleaded guilty on March 4, 2016 and was sentenced to 42 months in prison.

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According to court documents and facts presented at his sentencing hearing, Butler devised a scheme in which he stole identities from state prison inmates and used them to file fraudulent tax refunds with the IRS.

Over the course of approximately two years, Butler filed 188 fraudulent tax returns and received $207,908 in refunds, which he deposited into his bank account.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation.