Tania Henderson, Wesley Chapel woman, accused of $1.5M identity theft scam

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A Florida woman formerly from the St. Louis area is accused of being the ringleader in an identity theft ring that tried to cheat the government out of nearly $1.5 million.

   Federal prosecutors in St. Louis charged 27-year-old Tania Henderson of Wesley Chapel, Fla., on Tuesday, the same day that a search warrant was executed at her home. Authorities say they found cash, debit cards and personal identification information of several people.

   The criminal complaint alleges that 191 fraudulent tax returns in the names of identity theft victims -- both living and dead -- were filed from a computer in Henderson's home. The refunds, including some already paid, amounted to nearly $1.5 million.

   Prosecutors say Henderson used a network of accomplices and would share proceeds with them.