Politics & Government

Marietta Duo Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud

Two others have also admitted their role in the identity theft and tax fraud ring.

Alpharetta police officers are assisting in an investigation that led to four people pleading guilty for their roles in an identity theft and fraudulent tax return ring that sought millions of dollars in fraudulent refunds.

Kelly Sue Lonas and Nyron Nelson, both of Marietta, pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring to commit wire fraud, said Bob Page, the spokesman for U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.

Sentencing hearings will be scheduled in September before U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg. The wire fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, Page said.

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Lonas and Nelson participated in a fraud ring run by Shawn Brown of Atlanta, another defendant in the case. Brown allegedly had ties to criminal organizations in Chicago and Atlanta, Page said. From January 2010 to March 2013, he allegedly filed fraudulent income tax returns and negotiated fraudulent tax refunds using stolen identities, he said.

The defendants are accused of using those stolen identities as well as fake wage and withholding information to prepare more than 1,000 fraudulent tax returns which claimed mroe than $5 million dollars in refunds. They allegedly established shell corporations and bank accounts to facilitate the fraud, Page said.

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In addition to Lonas and Nelson, Brown pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft on Wednesday. Christopher Edwards of Eutaw, AL, pleaded guilty today to aggravated identity theft.

The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence to any other sentence imposed. Each count carries a fine of up to $250,000.

"As part of their plea agreements," Page said, "the defendants have agreed to forfeit their interest in a luxury vehicle and jewelry purchased using illegal proceeds."


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