A federal grand jury sitting in St. Louis, Missouri, indicted a St. Louis resident on mail fraud and aggravated identity theft charges relating to a scheme to steal public school employees’ IDs and use them to file federal tax returns.

According to the indictment returned on Feb. 1 and unsealed yesterday, Kevin K. Williams stole public school employees’ IDs from a payroll company and used them to electronically file fraudulent federal income tax returns in the name of those employees. He also allegedly stole several tax preparation businesses’ Electronic Filing Identification Numbers (EFINs), which he used to secure bank products that allowed him to print refund checks and direct refunds to prepaid debit cards. The indictment alleges that Williams had printed refund checks issued in the names of the stolen IDs, and blank check stock and debit cards sent to his residence.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Source: U. S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri

So far, I can’t find the docket on this case, and have no firm information as to what payroll company, what school district, or even when the crime allegedly occurred, but because the Middle District of Alabama is also involved in this case, it seems likely that either the payroll company or the school district is in Alabama.

Update: The school district is Alexander City Schools in Alabama.