An investigation into an identity theft case has led to stiff penalties from the IRS for an Opelousas woman after she was caught cashing someone else's tax return check.

According to U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley, 33-year-old Hailey Guidry pleaded guilty to one count of identity theft after cashing a tax refund check belonging to a customer of her sister's tax businesses. Guidry intemittently worked for her sister's businesses, Guidry's Tax Service and Dee's Tax Services, where she was responsible for distributing tax refund checks to customers.

On May 8, 2013 Guidry obtained a tax refund check for a customer totaling more than $6,600 which she cashed a week later using false identification.

Guidry faces up to 15 years in prison, two years supervised release, a $250,000 fine and forfeiture of the items seized during the investigation.

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