BALTIMORE, MD. – Dolapo Lawal, a 34-year-old Baltimore resident, will spend the next five years behind bars for his role in a massive scheme to defraud the IRS and steal tax refunds from elderly victims.
Lawal’s elaborate scheme involved using stolen identities to file fraudulent tax returns, then loading the refunds onto debit cards linked to accounts opened in the victims’ names. He would then withdraw the cash from ATMs across the country.
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Lawal’s criminal activity was uncovered in two separate incidents. In 2022, he was caught with 24 debit cards loaded with over $200,000 in fraudulent tax refunds. He admitted to using the cards for personal expenses, including car payments and credit card debt.
A year later, a search of Lawal’s home revealed over 300 more debit cards linked to fraudulent tax returns totaling over $3 million. Law enforcement also found photos of the cards and their associated bank account information on his phone.
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U.S. District Chief Judge George L. Russell III sentenced Lawal to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release for access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. This case serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of identity theft and the importance of protecting personal information, especially for vulnerable populations like the elderly.
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