Miami police officer found guilty of identity theft, tax fraud

MIAMI, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- A Miami police officer, Malinsky Bazile, was convicted of stealing the identities of 1,000 people to claim fraudulent income-tax returns, court officials said.

Bazile, 28, who was found guilty on identity theft and tax-fraud charges in federal court Thursday, collected about $140,000 in the 2011-2012 scam, The Miami Herald reported.

Prosecutors said Bazile used a police database to steal the identities, then used that information to claim false tax returns.

Before Bazile was arrested last year, he worked with federal agents to investigate another Miami police officer, Vital Frederick, who is suspected of committing the same type of crime.

Frederick, 27, is on trial. Jury deliberations were to begin Friday.