Cape Girardeau Man Admits Identity Theft, Pandemic Fraud

Summary

Press release from Cape Girardeau announcing that Myles Benjamin Depew, 35, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to three counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. It says he admitted using one person's name to obtain an $11,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) in June of 2020 and another person's name for a $14,000 EIDL loan the next month, and preparing two fraudulent Missouri state tax returns that produced refunds of $2,060 and $8,668.49. The release says Depew, who worked as a tax preparer, told U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration agents that he stole the identities of 10 to 15 people.

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CAPE GIRARDEAU – A Cape Girardeau man on Friday admitted stealing identities to fraudulently apply for pandemic loans, file tax returns and seek state benefits.

Myles Benjamin Depew, 35, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to three counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. He admitted using the name of one person to fraudulently apply for and receive an $11,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) in June of 2020. The next month, Depew used someone else’s name to fraudulently apply for and receive a $14,000 EIDL loan. Finally, he used a third person’s identity to open a checking account with a West Virginia-based bank. Depew prepared two fraudulent Missouri state tax returns, triggering a refund deposit of $2,060 into the account in February of 2022 and $8,668.49 in April of 2023.

U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration agents interviewed Depew, who said he stole the identities of 10 to 15 people and used those to fraudulently apply for about $50,000 in benefits from the state of Missouri. Depew estimated that he had spent about $40,000 on gambling at the casino, $5,000 on food and another $5,000 on methamphetamine. Depew worked as a tax preparer and had access to names, birthdates and Social Security numbers.

Depew is scheduled to be sentenced on May 26. Wire fraud is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine or both prison and a fine. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, consecutive to other charges, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Willis is prosecuting the case.

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