Renee Delann Clouse, 56, of Seymour, Missouri, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for a fraudulent scheme in which she stole the identities of fellow inmates to obtain student loans and tax refunds. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri announced her sentencing on February 28.
In addition to her prison sentence, Clouse was ordered to pay $857,618 in restitution and forfeit an equal amount to the government.
Clouse pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud on April 23, 2024. While incarcerated on a state drug conviction, Clouse collected personal information from fellow inmates. After her release, she used these stolen identities to fraudulently obtain $338,610 in student loans and tax refunds.
The fraud scheme included securing federal education loans using the identities of 18 individuals, totaling $285,435. An additional $500,000 was sent directly to educational institutions, bringing the total fraud to $804,434. Clouse also obtained $53,174 in IRS refunds using the identities of 10 individuals.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office reported that Clouse continued her fraudulent activities even after learning she was under federal investigation and agreeing to plead guilty.
Clouse’s case highlights the severity of identity theft and the ongoing commitment of law enforcement to hold individuals accountable for exploiting others for financial gain.
