Former Baptist Health worker sentenced in Operation Zig Zag

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A former Baptist Health employee was sentenced this week to three years in prison for identity theft in connection with Operation Zig Zag, the State Attorney's Office announced Friday.

Yvonne Marie Johnson, 46, was convicted on three counts of Criminal Use of Personal Identification in March.

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Operation Zig Zag involved 17 individuals and received its name because of a seventh-month-long investigation that crossed the country with victims from Florida to New York.

SLIDESHOW: 17 arrested in Operation Zig Zag

The investigation began in May 2012 after VyStar Credit Union contacted authorities about irregular activity involving IRS refund checks.

Johnson collaborated with others to steal victims' identities and then gave that information to another party involved in the scheme to file fraudulent tax returns and open fraudulent credit cards.

Authorities estimated that in Jacksonville at least $150,000 was cashed in fraudulent tax refund checks related to this scheme. Other prosecutions are currently pending.


About the Author

A Jacksonville native and proud University of North Florida alum, Francine Frazier has been with News4Jax since 2014 after spending nine years at The Florida Times-Union.

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