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June 23, 2022

Florida Businessman Steals Taxpayers’ IRS Refund Checks

On April 28, 2022, in the Southern District of Florida, Gustave Rodney Joissin was sentenced for fraudulent endorsement of checks issued by the United States Treasury.

According to the court documents, on December 2, 2016, Joissin, as the sole signatory, opened a checking and savings account at a bank in the name of his business R&N Multi Services, LLC. The business advertised that it provided a variety of services, to include tax assistance services. Between April 25, 2017 and July 20, 2017, Joissin deposited 19 United States Treasury checks into bank accounts associated to his business. The checks were authentic unaltered Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax refund checks issued to taxpayers for tax year 2016. All the checks deposited had a signature purporting to be the taxpayer whose name was on the check, the statement “Pay to the order of R&N Multi Services LLC,” and an endorsement by Joissin. Proceeds from the deposited checks were used to make purchases at hotels, restaurants, and for airline tickets.

The taxpayers filed claims with the IRS to report they did not receive, sign, deposit, or cash the checks. Each payee was issued a replacement check. Joissin admitted he cashed the checks belonging to taxpayers he did not know and confirmed it was his signature that endorsed the checks. Through his scheme, Joissin stole over $100,000 in Federal funds.

Joissin was sentenced to 12 months’ and one day imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 assessment fee.

Source:  The facts in this case narrative come from the following publicly available documents: S.D. Fla., J., filed April 28, 2022; S.D. Fla., Plea Agr., filed February 17, 2022; and S.D. Fla., Proffer, filed February 17, 2022.