Two Georgia men with a seeming penchant for “Seinfeld” television-type humor have pleaded guilty to trying to steal the identities of more than 10 people — including that of U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
Federal prosecutors said Yafait Tadesse, 21, of Carrollton and Eyaso Abebe, 20, grabbed the names and Social Security numbers of several would-be victims from a website known for posting such sensitive and personal information, The Daily Mail reported. Among the names: Mr. Holder.
Prosecutors then said the two filed tax returns that reported their victims as employees of Walmart — including Mr. Holder, The Daily Mail reported.
U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said the two filed the fraudulent returns between November 2012 and April 2013, The Daily Mail reported. They then asked that the IRS refund their tax dollars in the form of pre-paid debit cards.
The IRS did catch some of the fraud and halted payment — but not all. Mr. Holder’s reported Walmart tax returns, however, were among those that were not paid.
Mr. Tadesse, who pleaded guilty months ago to charges related to fraud, was sentenced this week to 366 days in prison, and ordered to pay more than $4,000 to the IRS. Mr. Abebe is due for his sentencing hearing in August, following the guilty plea he gave in October 2013, The Daily Mail said.
Adding to the “dumb criminal” tag that’s being flung at the duo by various media, is Mr. Abebe’s Facebook page: On it, he describes himself as an “Importer/Exporter at Vandelay Industries,” a title used by “Seinfeld” comedy character, George Costanza, during a job interview in one episode.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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