Tampa tax fraudster sentenced

TAMPA -- Roger Snells, a Tampa resident guilty of filing fraudulent tax returns using the identities of deceased individuals, was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison for his crimes.

Snells pleaded guilty to tax fraud and aggravated identity theft Sept. 2. The 25-year-old used the names and identifying information of deceased individuals to prepare more than 100 fraudulent federal tax returns, totaling more than $165,000 in false claims, law enforcement officials say.

In addition to jail time, Snells was ordered to pay $26,164.61 in restitution to the U.S. Treasury.