Woodbridge IRS Employee Convicted of Fraud: U.S Attorney's Office

WOODBRIDGE, VA — A former IRS employee from Woodbridge was found guilty of access device fraud in federal court on Saturday, July 17. The employee, Kwashie Senam Zilevu, was accused of committing more than $58,000 in fraudulent purchases.

Officials said Zilevu was an information technology specialist with the IRS prior to his arrest. Court documents claimed that he made hundreds of fraudulent purchases through a victim's line of credit.

Raj Parekh is the acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. "As the evidence at trial showed, the defendant engaged in a scheme involving fraudulent purchases and payments, including by using a fictitious charity website, for his own benefit," Parekh said. "We thank the trial team and our partner agencies for ensuring that the defendant has been held accountable for inexcusably committing this crime while he was serving as a federal employee."

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Prosecutors presented evidence that showed Zilevu's scheme included obtaining identity information from the Dark Web. A credit card in the victim's name was also mailed to Zilevu's home in Woodbridge, officials said.

Zilevu's fraud scheme allowed him to make hundreds of purchases totaling more than $58,000, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Zilevu purchased international flights, interior decorating services, hotel rooms, and construction material to remodel his home.

"Evidence presented at trial also demonstrated that Zilevu made fraudulent payments to himself using financial instruments belonging to other people, including routing charitable donations to a fictitious African charity website he created, controlled, and used to further his criminal activity," the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Zilevu's sentencing is scheduled to be held on Nov. 10, 2021. He could face a maximum penalty of up to 15 years, though officials noted federal crimes do not typically receive the maximum sentence.

The Department of Justice provides several resources for fraud victims. Resources and more information about the U.S. Fraud Task Force is available on their website.