St. Paul Woman Pleads Guilty In Stolen Identity Tax Fraud Scheme

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A St. Paul woman pleaded guilty Friday to using stolen identities to file fraudulent tax returns, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in false claims.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, Ebony Shante Yarbrough, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft. Proesuctors say she admitted to convincing family and friends to let her file their tax returns between 2013 and 2015. She reportedly told them she was a cheaper alternative that other tax filing services.

In court, prosecutors say Yarbrough admitted to including dependents on those tax returns using personal information stolen from minors. All in all, the scheme accounted for more than $500,000 in false claims over the three-year period.

The U.S. Attorney's office didn't announce a court date for Yarbrough's sentencing.