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Press Release

Arizona Man Admits Role In Fraudulent Federal Income Tax Refund Scheme

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut

Deirdre M. Daly, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CHARLES ROSS, 41, of Surprise, Ariz., pleaded guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge Warren W. Eginton in Bridgeport to one count of wire fraud stemming from his role in an extensive federal income tax refund scheme.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between November 2012 and May 2013, ROSS and others conspired to file false federal income tax returns in the names of individuals in Connecticut and elsewhere without the individuals’ knowledge.  As part of the scheme, ROSS and others recruited victims by advertising that individuals were eligible for government funding.  ROSS’s co-conspirator, who held herself out falsely to be a certified public accountant, used the victims’ names, dates of birth, and Social Security Numbers to prepare and file false federal income tax returns, and then directed a portion of the resulting tax refunds to herself, to ROSS, and to the victims through a prepaid debit card.  ROSS also paid another co-conspirator who helped recruit victims.

When he is sentenced, ROSS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years.

This matter is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarala V. Nagala.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov

Updated March 18, 2015