This week, United States Attorney Andrew Birge announced that a Grand Rapid, Michigan man had pled guilty to student loan and tax fraud. 31-year-old Brandon Kenon Rogers carried out a wire fraud scheme consisting of aggravated identity theft. He ultimately defrauded the United States Department of Education of roughly $150,000. During his plea hearing, Rogers admitted to defrauding the Department of Education by obtaining the identifying information of others and using that information to apply for Student Loans and Pell Grants online.
The defendant also enrolled in local community colleges during those identities. Ultimately, the aid applications were approved and Rogers received loans and grants. The defendant used the money for his own purposes and never attended the required classes. Rogers also admitted to using the stolen identity information to file bogus tax returns seeking refunds in the names of other individuals.
The defendant told the court that he would help the government locate and prosecute others that were involved in the same activity. A date for the sentencing has not yet been set. For additional information, be sure to click here.
