Final Defendant Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Vallejo-Based Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Marcus Cooper, 33, of Vallejo, was sentenced today by United States District Judge John A. Mendez to five years and five months in prison for submission of false claims to the Internal Revenue Service, aggravated identity theft, and possession of stolen mail, Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Cooper and his co-defendants, Leticia Roque and Tiana Naples, conspired to submit a total of at least 60 false tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service in early 2012, requesting more than $200,000 in fraudulent tax refunds in other peoples’ names. The defendants obtained more than $102,000 in tax refund checks that were mailed to their address in Vallejo. When law enforcement agents searched the residence, a substantial volume of stolen United States mail was found in the house.

On February 9, 2016, Roque was sentenced by Judge Mendez to serve two years and six months in prison for her role in the conspiracy to submit false claims and aggravated identity theft.

On July 19, 2016, Naples was sentenced by Judge Mendez to serve 10 months of home detention for her role in the conspiracy to submit false claims.

This case was the product of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew G. Morris prosecuted the case.