An ongoing investigation into tax fraud and identity theft led to as many as nine more arrests Wednesday morning.

Police said 10 warrants - five for Sylvania residents, five for Statesboro residents - were issued and nine were taken into custody. Information on eight suspects was available Wednesday afternoon from the Bulloch County Jail.

Those listed in jail were:

- Sibrina Elizabeth Bangs, 26, of Olliff Street in Statesboro;

- Tameika Raquel Clark, 24, of Johnson Street in Statesboro;

- Dequillia Ann Hill, 43, of Live Oak Road in Sylvania;

- Cierra Roselee Johnson, 22, of Eastview Apartments in Statesboro;

- Tacarro Nicole Morgan, 25, of Brittany Lane in Sylvania;

- Richard Dean Parker, 60, of Waters Grove Road in Sylvania;

- Eula Mae Tisby Rodriguez, 47, of Long Leaf Street in Sylvania; and

- Kandice Cierrah White, 25, of Live Oak Road in Sylvania;

Thirteen defendants arrested earlier this year who have pleaded guilty to tax fraud, identify theft or related charges, are accused of obtaining Social Security numbers and other identifying information from stolen documents and using this information to file tax returns. They were granted tax refunds based on this fraudulently obtained information, U.S. Attorney Edward J. Tarver, of the Southern District of Georgia, has said.

Police said Wednesday that the warrants on which the latest arrests were made accuse the suspects of the same thing as the earlier arrested defendants.

Police said this round of arrests took place between 7 a.m. and noon Wednesday at the suspects' homes or places of employment, and all were taken into custody without incident.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney James D. Durham said Wednesday that the suspects are expected to make their first appearances in federal court today, and then more information will be released.

Police said Wednesday's arrests likely will not be the last, as the investigation continues into the large tax fraud and identity theft ring.

"These convictions demonstrate the continuing commitment of the Department of Justice to protecting the identities and the privacy of medical records of American citizens," Tarver said in late August, after all of the first 13 defendants had entered guilty pleas. "This investigation is ongoing. Our law enforcement partners will continue to track down identity thieves and bring them to justice."

Statesboro FBI Special Agent Marcus Kirkland and Internal Revenue Service Special Agent Gwen Weston have led the investigation, in connection with the Statesboro Police Department, Bulloch County Sheriff's Office, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Revenue and other state and local agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Stewart and Lamont A. Belk are prosecuting the cases.

Jason Wermers may be reached at (912) 489-9431.