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Man Charged with Identity Fraud and Filing False Tax Claims Arrested by Federal Authorities
AUGUSTA, GA—Edmund A. Booth, Jr., United States Attorney for the Southern District
of Georgia, announced today that federal authorities arrested Anthony Davila, of Tampa Florida,
who had been recently indicted by the federal grand jury sitting in Savannah for a violation of 18
U.S.C. § 286, Conspiracy; 11 counts of 18 U.S.C. § 287, False Claims against the United States; 11
counts of 18 U.S.C. § 1341, Mail Fraud; and 11 counts of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A, Aggravated Identity
Theft.
Booth noted that the indictment alleges that Davila caused to be filed with the Internal
Revenue Service more than 120 false income tax returns in other individuals’ names that together
claimed over $630,000 in false, fictitious, or fraudulent refunds. Davila was alleged to have
received from the United States Department of Treasury more than more than $423,000 in refunds
as a result of these false returns. The indictment describes a scheme where Davila is alleged to have
searched the website of the Florida Department of Corrections and the websites of other state
prisons to identify inmates who were serving sentences which generally exceeded 15 years. Davila
is alleged to have used fictitious W-2 forms and the fraudulently obtained data on the inmates to
create fictitious 1040EZ tax forms on which he forged the signatures of the inmates and mailed said
forms to the Internal Revenue Service.
Booth noted that, if convicted of conspiracy, Davila faces a maximum statutory penalty
of ten (10) years imprisonment; a fine of $250,000.00; and three (3) years supervised release.
On each count of false claims, if convicted, Davila faces a maximum statutory penalty of five
(5) years imprisonment; a fine $250,000.00; and three (3) years supervised release. For each
count of mail fraud, if convicted, Davila faces a maximum statutory penalty of twenty (20)
years imprisonment; a fine of $250,000.00; and three (3) years supervised release. As for each
count of aggravated identity theft, if convicted, Davila faces a maximum statutory penalty of
two(2) years imprisonment to run consecutive to any sentence imposed on the mail fraud counts;
a fine of $250,000.00; and three (3) years supervised release.
Booth stated that the indictment was placed under seal pending Davila’s arrest. The
indictment and arrest follow an investigation spanning several years. An arraignment date has
not yet been scheduled.
Booth stressed that an indictment is only an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. The
defendant is entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt
beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal
Bureau of Investigation. The government is represented in this case by Assistant United States
Attorney Patricia G. Rhodes.
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