A 37-year-old man was arrested on Monday. And charged with one count of organized fraud, five counts of Florida communications fraud, and three counts of criminal use of personal information. He was released from the Pasco County Jail after posting bond.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement Tampa Bay Regional Operations Center, in conjunction with the Internal Revenue Service and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Demetrius Lewis.

During an ongoing criminal investigation, investigators learned that Lewis was allegedly receiving and cashing fraudulent tax refund checks. The checks were issued to eight different people who had no knowledge nor gave permission to anyone to file returns in their names.

“The arrest showcases the collaborative law enforcement effort t to address this emerging problem. Similar cases are being developed,” FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey said.

Agent Jim Robnett, IRS Special Agent in Charge said, “The successful arrest of Demetrius Lewis symbolizes the forward strides that the Alliance has made in combating identity theft-related tax fraud. It is through these joint efforts and the use of new tools such as the Identity Theft Disclosure Pilot Program that these successes are possible. These types of crimes impact everyone, from tax-paying citizens to the victims and their families whose identities were stolen.”