Two new jersey residents indicted separately for conspiracy to file false tax returns
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
January 26, 2012 |
NEWARK, N.J. – A Middlesex County woman and a Hudson County man were both charged today in separate Indictments for their roles in trying to fraudulently obtain tax refunds by filing false claims with the IRS, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Patriciah Omari, 32, of Middlesex, and Peter Omoni, 29, of Jersey City, were charged in separate Indictments returned by a federal grand jury in Newark with one count each of conspiring with others to file a false federal income tax return to defraud the IRS and stealing government property.
According to documents filed in this case:
Both defendants are charged with preparing with co-conspirators false tax returns in the name of another person. The returns included an address that did not correspond with the actual address of the person whose name and Social Security number was used on the fraudulent return; false statements about income; false W-2 forms from employers who did not employ the person named on the return; false information about income tax withholding, and false claims for refunds.
Omari is charged with preparing a false return between April 2010 and June 2010 and receiving $72,859, which IRS had deposited in a bank account she controlled. Omoni is charged with preparing two false returns between October 2009 and July 2010 and receiving $117,781, which IRS had deposited in a bank account he controlled. Both defendants later withdrew the deposited funds.
The counts on which Omari and Omoni were indicted are punishable by a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents and investigators of the U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jacob Christine in Newark; IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge JoAnn Zuniga; and the inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service under the direction of Inspector in Charge Philip R. Bartlett, with the investigation leading to today’s Indictment.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacques S. Pierre of the United States Attorney’s Office Health Care and Government Fraud Unit.
The charge and allegations contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the
defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel:
Omari: Damian P. Conforti Esq., Newark
Omoni: Kevin Carlucci Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark
