FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885
MARCH 28, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TAX PREPARER INDICTED IN FRAUDULENT TAX REFUND SCHEME
Baltimore, Maryland - United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein announces that a federal grand jury has indicted Benjamin Iloamuzo, age 36, formerly of Baltimore and believed to now be living outside the United States, for crimes committed in connection with a scheme to obtain fraudulent income tax refunds. The 30-count indictment charges Iloamuzo with 20 counts of filing false claims against the United States in the form of fraudulent income tax returns seeking refunds to which he was not entitled. The indictment also contains 10 counts of identity theft in which Iloamuzo allegedly used the identity information of other persons in filing these fraudulent income tax returns.
According to the indictment, which was returned yesterday, Iloamuzo was employed with the Housing Authority of Baltimore City from 2000 to 2001, during which time he unlawfully obtained identification information, including names and Social Security numbers, of clients of the Housing Authority. He also is alleged to have unlawfully obtained identity information of numerous residents of group homes in the Baltimore area. In 2001 Iloamuzo incorporated DI, Inc. to operate a gas station. From 2002 to 2003 Iloamuzo worked at Millenium Tax and Accounting Services, Inc., a tax return preparation business. Iloamuzo managed the Millenium office and prepared tax returns. The indictment alleges that using the unlawfully obtained identity information of various individuals and some of his friends, Iloamuzo prepared false W-2 Forms for non-existent employment at DI, Inc. and other employers, and then prepared fake federal income tax returns seeking refunds using this information. Iloamuzo allegedly directed that the refunds be sent to bank accounts which he controlled or which had funded Refund Anticipation Loans based on the false tax returns.
The indictment alleges that Iloamuzo filed a total of 64 fraudulent tax returns seeking refunds of over $220,000 and that he obtained approximately $104,000 on 29 of these returns before the scheme was discovered by Internal Revenue Service agents.
Each count of filing false claims carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Each count of identity theft carries a maximum penalty of fifteen years in prison and a fine of $250,000. An arrest warrant has been issued for Iloamuzo.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the investigative work performed by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Welsh, who is prosecuting the case.
This page last modified—March 29, 2006