United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

1100 Commerce St., 3rd Fl.
Dallas, Texas 75242-1699

Telephone (214) 659-8600
Fax (214) 767-0978

United States Attorney Richard H. Stephens announced today a federal grand jury sitting in Dallas, Texas returned a 23-count indictment against Dallas residents, Oscar Chip Reyes, age 41, Rosio Alejandra Reyes, age 35, and Dianna Cortez Velasquez, age 44, charging that they knowingly, willfully and conspired to defraud the United States by filing false claims in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 286, 287 and 2. In addition, Oscar Chip Reyes and Rosio Alejandra Reyes were indicted for willfully filing false tax returns for 1996 and 1997, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206 (1) and Title18, United States Code, Section 2. A trial date has not yet been set.

If convicted on all charges, Oscar Chip Reyes faces a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of 46 years and a $2.0 million fine; Rosio Alejandra Reyes faces a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of 101 years and a $4.7 million fine; and Dianna Cortez Velasquez faces a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of 70 years and a $3.0 million fine.

The indictment alleges that Oscar Chip Reyes, owner of Dallas-based Reyes Income Tax Service and Reyes & Reyes Insurance Agency, along with defendants Rosio Alejandra Reyes and Dianna Cortez Velasquez, created false 1996 and 1997 Forms 1099's in the names and social security numbers of recruited individuals which showed they had earned wages from Reyes when these claims were false and fraudulent. The indictment also alleges that Oscar Chip Reyes, Rosio Alejandra Reyes and Dianna Cortez Velasquez recruited and took individuals to the offices of Reyes & Reyes Insurance Agency where they were instructed to sign false Forms 8453, U.S. Individual Income Tax Declaration for Electronic Filings, for 1996 and 1997. According to the indictment, the defendants' filed approximately 28 false federal tax returns, claiming approximately $52,993 in fraudulent tax refunds for 1996 and 1997.

Defendants Oscar Chip Reyes and Rosio Alejandra Reyes were also charged with willfully filing false U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns Forms 1040PC for 1996 and 1997. The indictment alleges that they filed false Schedule C's with each return that overstated commissions and fees in the amount of $67,404 for 1996 and $46,194 for 1997.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

United States Attorney Stephens commended the investigative work of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Dallas Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rose L. Romero.

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