FLA. County Tax Collector employee indicted on identity theft, document fraud

I.C.E. News Release

May 24, 2013
Orlando, FL

Osceola County Tax Collector employee indicted on identity theft, document fraud charges

ORLANDO, Fla. – A Kissimmee man was indicted Wednesday on one count of conspiracy to knowingly and without lawful authority produce identification documents and nine counts of aggravated identity theft. The indictment resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Services and the Florida Highway Patrol’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Intelligence.

According to the indictment, Walter Brown, 41, was a customer service representative at the Osceola County Tax Collector’s Office. Brown’s primary duty was to issue driver’s licenses and identification cards. Court documents show that Brown issued at least 200 Florida driver’s licenses and identification cards to individuals who may not have been legally entitled to the documents. In some instances, Brown fraudulently issued driver’s licenses and identification cards in multiple identities to the same person.

The Osceola County Tax Collector’s Office reported Brown to law enforcement after internal controls revealed suspicious activity involving his issuance of Florida driver’s licenses and identification cards. Brown was terminated from his employment, and the Osceola County Tax Collector’s Office has cooperated fully in the investigation.

If convicted, Brown faces up to 15 years in federal prison for the conspiracy charge and two years in federal prison for each count of aggravated identity theft.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423 or complete our tip form.

http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1305/130524orlando.htm

FEBRUARY 19, 2014
ORLANDO, FL
Kissimmee man sentenced for issuing fraudulent Fla. driver's licenses


ORLANDO, Fla. – A Kissimmee man was sentenced Tuesday to two years and one day in prison, along with 25 hours of community service, for aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to produce fraudulently obtained driver’s licenses. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security Services and the Florida Highway Patrol’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Intelligence.
According to court documents, Walter Brown, 42, was a customer service representative at the Osceola County Tax Collector’s Office, where he issued driver’s licenses and identification cards. Court documents show, in this capacity, Brown issued more than 250 Florida driver’s licenses and identification cards to individuals who may not have been legally entitled to the documents. In some instances, Brown issued fraudulent driver’s licenses and identification cards in multiple identities to the same person. Brown made an estimated $300 to $700 for each fraudulent identity document he issued.
The Osceola County Tax Collector’s Office reported Brown to law enforcement after internal controls revealed suspicious activity involving his issuance of Florida driver’s licenses and identification cards. The Tax Collector’s Office cooperated fully in the investigation and Brown was terminated from his employment.
"Identity and document fraud poses a significant threat to our country's national security. This individual fraudulently issued identity documents to hundreds of individuals with no regard for the people whose identities were compromised," said Susan McCormick, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Tampa, which oversees the agency's Orlando office that conducted this investigation. "Thanks to cooperation from the Osceola County Tax Collector's Office, we were able to dismantle this scheme."
Brown pleaded guilty Dec.13.
http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1402/140219orlando.htm

Ex-Tax Collector employee gets prison for ID scheme


February 18, 2014
|By Amy Pavuk, Orlando Sentinel

A former tax collector's office employee was sentenced to roughly two years in federal prison Tuesday for issuing hundreds of fraudulent driver's licenses and identification cards, including to people who were in the country illegally.

Walter Brown admitted that while he worked as a customer service representative at the Osceola County Tax Collector's Office, he was paid between $300 and $700 for every fraudulent license or ID card he produced.

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A Homeland Security Investigations probe found that those involved in the identity theft scheme bypassed the Tax Collector's Office queue system and went directly to Brown's desk.

Brown appeared to be expecting the customers, and was captured on surveillance video meeting with people engaged in the identity theft scheme, his plea agreement said.

In some instances, suspected facilitators of the scheme were captured escorting some customers directly to Brown.

Among the people who received driver's licenses from Brown was "R.T.," a Jamaican who had been deported from the United States after being convicted in a cocaine case.

Homeland Security Investigations agents investigating the identity theft scheme said Brown gave R.T. two different Florida driver's licenses in two names.

Brown's plea agreement details several other instances with different people. Agents said Brown produced at least 280 fraudulent licenses or identification cards.

Brown was arrested in April and pleaded guilty in October.

His defense attorney argued in court filings that Brown, who supports four children, should receive probation.

"When confronted with an opportunity to participate in the crimes … Mr. Brown fell prey to his desire to more fully meet his financial responsibilities to his family," Brown's defense argued.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/...-tax-collector