Two Miami Police Officers Arrested in Identity Theft and Tax Refund Case: Authorities

[Erica Absetz <eabsetz () opensecurityfoundation org>]

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Two-Miami-Police-Officers-Arrested-in-Identity-Theft-and-Tax-Fraud-Case-Authorities-196024211.html

Two Miami Police officers made their first appearances in federal
court Thursday afternoon after being arrested in a case of identity
theft and tax refund fraud, authorities said.

Malinsky Bazile, 28, has been charged with access device fraud, use of
a computer to facilitate the access device fraud, and aggravated
identity theft, while Vital Frederick, 26, has been charged with
access device fraud, aggravated identity theft and extortion under
color of official right, federal authorities said.

Both officers were relieved of duty before they were arrested, The
Miami Herald reported.

A state corrections officer, Bernard Beliard, was also arrested on
Thursday in a separate corruption investigation on charges of access
device fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to authorities.
The 27-year-old also made his initial appearance in federal court
Thursday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert L. Dubé.

The defendants used their law enforcement positions to gain and/or
access the "personal identifying information" of individuals,
according to authorities.

"Beliard and Frederick are alleged to have gained access to and sold
personal identifying information of unsuspecting individuals to an FBI
source believing that such information would be used in a tax return
fraud. Bazile allegedly used the city’s official computer to gain
access to personal identifying information of individuals, and then
used the information to participate in a tax return fraud scheme,"
authorities said in a statement. "Frederick is also charged with
providing security and protection services to a check cashing
operation that purportedly cashed fraudulent treasury checks."

The Herald reported that Bazile and Frederick's arrests were related
to an investigation into several Miami Police officers who were
connected to an extortion scheme for a Liberty City-based sports
gambling operation. Frederick faces his extortion charge in connection
to that investigation, the newspaper reported.

"There’s been some issues with the city of Miami Police Department,"
said Bazile's attorney, Saam Zangeneh. "I don’t know if there’s any
kind of nexus between Mr. Bazile and the other investigation. Because
I haven’t been afforded all of the discovery, I don't know what the
government knows.”

It wasn't immediately known if Frederick and Beliard have attorneys.

All three defendants are due back in court next week to enter pleas.
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