A group of criminals stole the personal data of Americans and received tax refunds for them for $ 111 million

Seven people are charged in a sophisticated stolen identity tax refund scheme that caused $111 million in damages to the IRS, reports US Department of Justice.

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According to the indictment, from 2018 to 2021, Abraham Yusuff of Round Rock, Megan Inyang of San Antonio, Christopher Eduardo of Round Rock, Christian Maturin of Nashville, Tennessee, Dillon Anozie of San Antonio, Babajide Ogunbanjo of Austin and Aydin Mammadov from Houston were involved in a conspiracy to obtain fraudulent tax refunds using stolen identities of accountants and taxpayers. They filed at least 371 false tax returns claiming more than $111 million from the IRS.

Yusuff allegedly hired Eduardo, Maturin, Anozzi, Ogunbanjo and Mammadov and told them to provide him with addresses that could be used in the scheme. Yusuff and others then allegedly registered with the IRS, posing as authorized agents of several taxpayers, using stolen information relating to the taxpayers and their real tax agents. The conspirators then allegedly asked the IRS to change the taxpayers' registered addresses and send their tax information, including account statements and payroll reports, to addresses controlled by the conspirators. They then allegedly used this information to electronically file tax returns claiming a fake refund. Prior to issuing tax refunds to some taxpayers, the IRS allegedly sent verification letters to addresses controlled by the Defendants, and the Defendants and others impersonating taxpayers instructed the IRS to return the refunds.

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The indictment also alleges that Yusuff, Inyang, Eduardo, Anozie, Ogunbanjo and Mammadov received prepaid debit cards that were supposed to be used to receive fraudulent refunds. After the refunds were transferred to prepaid debit cards, they laundered the funds. Yusuff and others allegedly used prepaid debit cards and money orders to buy designer clothes, home renovation supplies and used cars at auction. The indictment alleges that all defendants held or received money orders purchased with fraudulent refunds as their share of illegal proceeds.

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The indictment charges each defendant with a variety of crimes, including mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, money laundering, and access device fraud. If found guilty, they face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit said fraud, 20 years for money laundering, 10 years for access device fraud, and a mandatory sentence of two years for aggravated identity theft.

In addition to any term of imprisonment, each of the accused also faces supervised release, monetary fines and confiscation. The judge of the federal district court will render the verdict after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

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This was stated by Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart Goldberg of the Department of Justice Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas.

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