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Press Release

Indicted Lewisville, Texas, Resident To Remain In Federal Custody

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Texas
Defendant Used Others’ Personal Identifying Information To Steal Income Tax Refunds

DALLAS — A federal grand jury in Dallas returned an indictment last week, that was unsealed today, charging a Lewisville, Texas, man with offenses stemming from his theft of others’ personal identifying information to steal income tax refunds, announced John Parker, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

Defendant John Bash made his initial appearance in federal court today, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul D. Stickney, who ordered him detained. During the hearing, it was revealed that Bash, who was arrested by special agents with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation (CI) at his residence in Lewisville, is 30-years-old.

The indictment charges Bash with two counts of conspiracy to commit theft of federal public money and two counts of aggravated identity theft.

It alleges that beginning in January 2012, Bash conspired to steal federal public money, that is, income tax returns. As part of the conspiracy, according to the indictment, Bash would obtain the personal identifying information of third persons, including their names, Social Security Numbers and dates of birth. Then, Bash would prepare and submit false federal income tax returns to the IRS using that information. Bash prepared the false income tax returns to include false income and withholding information in a way that would result in a claim for a refund. He filed the returns requesting the refunds either be mailed in the form of a check to an address controlled by a conspirator or loaded onto debit cards acquired by a conspirator.

A federal indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury, and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. Upon conviction, however, the penalty for each count of conspiracy to commit theft of federal public money is 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Each count of aggravated identity theft carries, upon conviction, a mandatory two-year sentence.

IRSCI is investigating. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wiley is in charge of the prosecution.

Updated June 22, 2015