East Side Crips Gang Member and Sisters Sentenced for Stealing Identities and Filing Fraudulent Tax Returns

Contact:
Jenn Meale
Phone: 850.245.0150
jennifer.meale@myfloridalegal.com

East Side Crips Gang Member and Sisters Sentenced for Stealing Identities and Filing Fraudulent Tax Returns

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—An East Side Crips gang member and his two sisters were
sentenced to a total of 12 years in prison, probation and restitution to
the IRS. Attorney General Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution
prosecuted the individuals after an investigation by the Manatee County
Sheriff’s Office revealed that they were stealing people’s social security
numbers and filing fraudulent tax returns.

Justino Santana had been sentenced to prison in 2007 for racketeering, and
he committed these tax fraud offenses while in custody. Santana stole the
identities of victims and then used his two sisters, Leticia Salas and
Lucina Santana-Gonzalez, to file the fraudulent tax returns and cash the
refund checks. The sisters would then deposit portions of the stolen tax
refunds into his commissary account in prison.

Justino Santana pled guilty on Sept. 18 to one count of organized fraud and
five counts of identity theft, and he was sentenced to eight years in
prison, which is to be served consecutive to his current prison sentence,
four years of probation, and restitution to the IRS.

Leticia Salas was charged with one count of organized fraud and five counts
of identity theft, and she was sentenced to two years of prison, four years
of probation, and restitution to the IRS.

Lucina Santana-Gonzalez was charged with one count of organized fraud and
four counts of identity theft, and she was sentenced to two years of
prison, four years of probation, and restitution to the IRS.

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