A security guard who stole hundreds of identities and fraudulently claimed over £1.3m of tax credits has been jailed for eight and a half years.
Olaide (John) Taiwo (35), pictured courtesy of HMRC, was jailed for his part in stealing the identities of at least 350 people and using the identities to submit over 300 fraudulent tax credit claims.<br><br>A woman who took part in the fraud was also convicted and will be sentenced in April.<br><br>Richard Young, Senior Investigating Officer for HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) said after the case: “This pair blatantly hijacked the identities of over 350 innocent people and stole from British taxpayers by submitting over 300 fraudulent tax credit claims between June 2004 and July 2008. They deliberately attacked and abused a system designed to provide financial help to the most vulnerable people in our society. The sentences given will be a warning to anyone considering committing this type of fraud – it will not be tolerated. HMRC will pursue, prosecute and reclaim the financial gain from those found to commit these types of crime. I urge anyone who has information about Tax Credits fraud, to call the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440 and help us stamp this fraudulent activity out.”<br><br>Upon sentencing Taiwo, His Honour Judge Simon Davis said: “This is a fraud on a substantial scale. You lied and sought to manipulate with ease and confidence and with an arrogance that was astonishing. You were intimately connected with every aspect of the fraud, stealing real details of real people to commit identity fraud on the large scale.”<br><br>Taiwo, from Camberwell, South East London was arrested on 6 August 2010. A search of his home uncovered evidence of the fraud taking place, including details of numerous bank accounts held in the defendants’ names and aliases, plus documentation which held hundreds of innocent people’s identities. HMRC investigators also seized £70,000, which is believed to be proceeds of the crime.<br><br>Taiwo was found guilty of fraudulently obtaining payments of tax credits, by using the names and addresses of individuals without their consent and acquiring criminal property.<br><br>Taiwo was sentenced on February 22 at Inner London Crown Court.<br><br>Confiscation proceedings are in place.
