United States Attorney David Capp

Northern District of Indiana

5400 Federal Plaza, Suite 1500

Hammond, Indiana 46320

Hammond                                                 South Bend                                               Fort Wayne

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                         CONTACT: Mary L. Hatton

March 31, 2011                                                                                   PHONE: (219) 937-5500

www.usdoj.gov/usao/inn/                                                                    Fax: (219) 852-2770 

LAFAYETTE MAN CHARGED IN CRIMINAL COMPLAINT

Hammond, Indiana—The United States Attorney's Office announced the following:

Darren A. Dunham, 46, of Lafayette, Indiana, was arrested yesterday after being charged in a felony complaint with five counts of aiding in the filing of a false tax return.

Dunham, a former director of Home with Hope, a drug rehabilitation center in Lafayette, Indiana, is the sole proprietor of D.A.D. Income Tax Service, which he runs out of Lafayette, Kokomo, Indianapolis, and Chicago. From about January 2010 through March 2011, Dunham solicited clients, obtained their personal information, then prepared and filed 2009 US individual income tax returns that were based on false information he manufactured claiming income not earned by the clients. The IRS processed these false returns submitted by Dunham on behalf of these clients, issuing tax refunds electronically to bank accounts owned by Dunham. Dunham would issue a check for a portion of the refund to the client, and would keep the difference.

Dunham had his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Paul Cherry and was released. Arraignment has been set for April 12, 2011.

 These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gary Bell.

The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that an Complaint is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

            The specific sentence in each case to be imposed upon conviction will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.