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Man uses dead wife’s Social Security number in fraudulent tax filing

A 52-year-old Honolulu man pleaded guilty in federal court today to one count of aggravated identity theft stemming from his use of his deceased wife’s Social Security number in a fraudulent tax filing.

Richard Derrick Jr. faces a mandatory two years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and restitution. He is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 10, 2017.

According to prosecutors, Derrick filed numerous fraudulent federal and state income tax returns using other people’s personal information.

Derrick pleaded guilty to the case involving his wife but also acknowledged that he was responsible for fraudulently obtaining $241,897.60 in refunds from the state in cases using the other people’s personal information.

The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, with the assistance of the state Department of Taxation, Criminal Investigation Section. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amalia Fenton.

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