HARRISBURG, PA — This week, Attorney General Michelle Henry has announced the filing of charges against a Harrisburg resident, Kaahir Teagle, in connection with an alleged attempt to defraud the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. The accusations involve using stolen banking details to make online deposits into his income tax account, which purportedly led to the generation of six income tax refund checks totaling just over $1 million.
The investigation, spearheaded by the Office of Attorney General’s Financial Crime Section, alleges that Teagle, 22, engaged in multiple electronic fund transfers from accounts with stolen information, resulting in the issuance of these refund checks. Of the six checks, Teagle successfully cashed four, amassing a total of $13,030.65.
Teagle faces multiple felony charges, including theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, identity theft, and access device fraud. Following his arraignment, his bail has been set at $100,000.
Attorney General Henry emphasized the broader implications of these allegations, stating, “This defendant is not only accused of stealing bank account information from unsuspecting individuals, but also trying to defraud the state income tax system, which puts all tax-paying Pennsylvanians at risk.” She noted that swift action had limited the financial damage, with only a small portion of the fraudulent transactions being paid out.
The allegations were brought to light after the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue identified Teagle’s 2021 tax return as potentially fraudulent. A subsequent review revealed 33 fraudulent electronic fund transfer payments credited to his online tax account over a span of months in 2022.
Senior Deputy Attorney General Helen Park has been assigned to prosecute the case. As the legal proceedings continue, it is important to remember that the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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