Most of us can agree that there’s little worse than stealing from children. Unfortunately, kids are an easy target, and especially those whom have been in trouble with the law. The Washington Post has the story of an employee at the D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, who was caught supplying a massive identity theft ring with personally identifiable information for around 645 youth offenders.
Apparently, a local barbershop owner organized more than 130 people into the crime ring. (Might want to think twice before you blab about your personal life to the man behind the chair!)Together they illegally filed and claimed tax refunds worth more than $42 million. Investigators also discovered that the minors’ information, supplied by the juvenile justice worker, resulted in about $2.4 million in fraudulent refunds.
Ultimately, authorities busted the entire ring and at least 20 participants have since pleaded guilty to various charges. The juvenile justice worker did, eventually, admit to his role in the scheme and was sentenced to four years in prison. (He’ll be confined to the real kind of lock-up, for grown-ups.) He also must repay the IRS almost $2 million.
The fact of the matter is, all children are vulnerable, and those whom have been in a bit of trouble are especially easy to exploit. Unfortunately, some are provided a social worker or other representative whom isn’t concerned with their best interest but, actually, is actively working against it.
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