Two Cobb County men are in custody after being accused of stealing more than $130,000 from taxpayers.
Police say Justin Harrison and Hakeem Hopkins stole more than 130 people's identities from around the country. They are using of using those identities to file fraudulent tax refunds.
"They're stealing money from taxpayers here in Georgia. This is money that comes right from the state treasury. It's no different than somebody walking down to the state treasurer with a gun and taking money that way," said Georgia Revenue Commissioner Doug MacGinnitie.
Authorities told FOX 5 that the investigation spanned more than a year dating back to the 2011 tax filing season.
"It often consisted no more than somebody who gets illicit names and social security numbers and then files multiple fraudulent returns, and they'll file 100 of them and hope only 50 of them go through," said MacGinnitie.
All 132 checks, averaging about $1,000 each, were mailed to the same Marietta address, an apartment at the Ashford Retreat Apartment Homes on Windy Hill Road. Authorities say that that was one of the red flags.
"We see a lot of this. And to give you some context, last calendar year in 2012, the department blocked 160,000 returns , totaling just shy of $100 million of returns that we think were fraudulent. So this is a huge problem in this state," said MacGinnitie.
The commissioner says that his wife was a victim of identity theft a few years ago.
"They stole her identity, had her social security number, her name, made up some information on a tax return, filed it, and were able to steal money from the state treasury that way," said MacGinnitie.
The commissioner said that the department has new measures now in place to alert them of possible fraud.
"It's a never-ending battle, really," said MacGinnitie.
Harrison is facing first-degree forgery charges. Hakeem Hopkins is being held for ID fraud. More charges are pending, authorities said.
The case will now go to the attorney general's office.
Friday, May 24 2013 10:14 AM EDT2013-05-24 14:14:44 GMT
A judge has sentenced Michael Parson to the maximum of 35 years in jail for the attempted murder of his wife. On Thursday, Parson was convicted of shooting his wife, Adina, eight times in 2012.
A judge has sentenced Michael Parson to the maximum of 35 years in jail for the attempted murder of his wife. On Thursday, Parson was convicted of shooting his wife, Adina, eight times outside their Sandy Springs apartment in 2011.
Friday, May 24 2013 9:52 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:52:10 GMT
The jury has found Michael Parson guilty on all eight counts in the shooting of his wife outside their Sandy Springs apartment.The woman, Adina Parson, survived after being shot eight times.
The jury has found Michael Parson guilty on all eight counts in the shooting of his wife outside their Sandy Springs apartment.The woman, Adina Parson, survived after being shot eight times.
Friday, May 24 2013 9:40 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:40:32 GMT
Families of city workers are back at Atlanta City Hall this morning for a second day of protests. They're demanding bigger pay raises for police, firefighters and other first responders.
Families of city workers are back at Atlanta City Hall this morning for a second day of protests. They're demanding bigger pay raises for police, firefighters and other first responders.
Friday, May 24 2013 9:23 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:23:38 GMT
A Newton County teenager and his mom received the gift of mobility on Thursday, thanks to some Good Samaritans.
A Newton County teenager and his mom received the gift of mobility on Thursday, thanks to some Good Samaritans. Tyler Head was injured in a high school wrestling tournament in December, and getting back and forth to therapy is a vital to his recovery.
Friday, May 24 2013 11:12 AM EDT2013-05-24 15:12:21 GMT
AP photo
President Barack Obama plans to give the Jersey Shore a boost with a post-Memorial Day visit to showcase recovery efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
President Barack Obama plans to give the Jersey Shore a boost with a post-Memorial Day visit to showcase recovery efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
Friday, May 24 2013 10:55 AM EDT2013-05-24 14:55:44 GMT
The unofficial start of summer is being met with not so perfect beach weather. Many beach communities had been hoping for good weather this weekend following the destruction and rebuilding due to superstorm Sandy.
The unofficial start of summer is being met with not so perfect beach weather. Many beach communities had been hoping for good weather this weekend following the destruction and rebuilding due to superstorm Sandy.
Friday, May 24 2013 9:23 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:23:33 GMT
New Jersey's education commissioner has overturned the firing of a high school athletic director who was caught on camera putting dog waste on his ex-wife's car.
New Jersey's education commissioner has overturned the firing of a high school athletic director who was caught on camera putting dog waste on his ex-wife's car.
Friday, May 24 2013 6:29 AM EDT2013-05-24 10:29:05 GMT
AP photo
Actress Amanda Bynes was arrested Thursday for allegedly smoking marijuana in the lobby of her Midtown Manhattan building and throwing a marijuana bong out of a window, said police.
Actress Amanda Bynes was arrested Thursday for allegedly smoking marijuana in the lobby of her Midtown Manhattan building and throwing a marijuana bong out of a window, said police.
