Broward men ran $108 million ID theft fraud, used rap label to hide crimes, feds say

The Sun-Sentinel reports:

Five men convicted of running what investigators called a $108 million "fraud factory" from a Miramar home operated one of the largest tax refund frauds exposed in the nation, federal prosecutors say.

The identity theft and income tax fraud was exposed after an armed home invasion robbery was reported at the house in the Silver Falls neighborhood in 2013.

Investigators found wads of cash, more than 500 debit cards in other people's names, expensive jewelry, watches, shoes, clothing and other assets in the house. The fraud was run like a business, authorities said, and the men filed tens of thousands of income tax returns using stolen identities to illegally seek refunds.

The fraud was so extensive that the IRS criminal investigations division is still analyzing the questionable returns. So far, they have found more than $108 million worth of false income tax returns filed by the group and believe the IRS actually paid out more than $28.2 million in fraudulent refunds, prosecutor Brooke Watson said in court Tuesday as three of the five men were sentenced.

Modern day organized crime.