Crime & Safety

Stone Mountain Woman Found Guilty of Fraud, Identity Theft

Cora Cadia Ford, who is said to have preyed on the disabled, will be sentenced in December.

Following a three-day trial, Cora Cadia Ford of Stone Mountain has been found guilty on 30 counts of mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, and filing false claims with the IRS.

From 2007 to 2011, Ford filed false tax returns, using the names and social security numbers of the poor, homeless and disabled, according to U.S. Attorney Sally Yates. “This defendant took advantage of some of the most disadvantaged members of our community,” she said. "She callously left her victims without their much-needed disability payments.”   


IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent Veronica Hyman-Pillot called it "trickery, dishonesty and deceit (that deserves) to be punished to the fullest extent of the law." 

Ford, 55, obtained the tax refund checks and deposited them into her bank account or cashed them, Yates said, and used the money for her own benefit. Many of the victims had their social security disability benefits reduced or eliminated as a result.          

In some instances, Ford, who also ran a small church, told her victims that she would file a tax return on their behalf, calling it “a gift from God.” Ford then used the victims’ identifying information to prepare false tax returns, keeping refunds for herself.   

Ford is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 16. 

See also:
Local Woman Charged With Identity Theft Scheme


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