ATLANTA - Thomas Addaquay has been sentenced following his conviction of 30 felonies related to two nationwide fraud schemes involving tax refund, business email compromise, and romance fraud scams.
“Addaquay’s fraud schemes impacted numerous victims across the country and resulted in millions in losses to the IRS and private citizens,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “The combined efforts of our federal and local law enforcement partners secured Addaquay’s successful prosecution and made it possible to obtain justice for the numerous innocent taxpayers whose lives were disrupted by this defendant’s criminal conduct and greed.”
“Addaquay’s criminal activities emotionally and financially harmed the lives of many innocent victims,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to bringing to justice those who victimize others through fraudulent financial schemes.”
“Scammers like Addaquay enrich themselves by preying on innocent people with no care for the lasting damage they cause,” said Frederick D. Houston, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. “As part of our dual protective and investigative mission, we are tasked with safeguarding the United States’ financial and payment systems from criminal exploitation. The U.S. Secret Service is committed to investigating cases of fraud and we work hand-in-hand with our law enforcement partners to pursue justice for victims of financial crime across the country.”
Stolen Identity Tax Refund Scheme
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the charges and other information presented in court: a trial jury found Addaquay guilty of 29 counts of fraud-related offenses including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, money laundering conspiracy, and money laundering. His conduct related to a stolen identity tax refund fraud scheme. From at least 2011 to at least 2016, Addaquay obtained stolen names, social security numbers, and dates of birth of taxpayers to prepare and file fraudulent federal income tax returns. The filing of these fraudulent tax returns resulted in the issuance of thousands of tax refund checks. The district court determined that his scheme led to a loss to the IRS of more than $4 million.
Business Email Compromise and Romance Scams
In addition, Addaquay participated in schemes to defraud multiple victims through business email compromise and romance scams. His schemes involved, among other conduct, the use of false identities and hacked or spoofed email accounts to gain the confidence of victims to divert funds into bank accounts. Addaquay pleaded guilty to structuring the proceeds. Victims across the country lost over $3 million as a result of his scams.
Thomas Addaquay, 50, of Atlanta, Ga., was sentenced to a combined term of imprisonment of 12 years and six months, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay more than $7 million in restitution.
These cases were investigated by Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the United States Secret Service, with valuable assistance from the Cobb County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Sekret T. Sneed and Angela Adams prosecuted the cases.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6280. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.