Fort Myers Residents Sentenced In False Tax Return Scheme

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Amaury Jimenez Brito (37, Fort Myers) to 21 months in federal prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States with false claims and theft of government property.  The Court also ordered Brito to pay $7,924 in restitution to the IRS. He pleaded guilty to the charges on November 6, 2014.      

According to court documents, between April 1, 2014, and May 22, 2014, Brito and his co-defendant, Yidelka Caceres, conspired with each other and with others to file approximately 264 false tax returns using the personal identifying information of other individuals without their permission. The total amount of tax refund payments sought from the IRS for the returns was more than $1.37 million.  However, the IRS rejected the majority of the filings and Brito and Caceres received approximately $7,924 in proceeds from the offense.

In addition, on April 18, 2014, Brito illegally sold two U.S. Treasury checks to a confidential informant. On May 8, 2014, Brito and Caceres illegally sold another U.S. Treasury check to the informant.  Neither Brito nor Caceres was the payee on the Treasury checks and they did not have permission to convert the funds for their own use or to sell or transfer the checks.

Caceres (39, Fort Myers) previously pleaded guilty for her role in this case. On February 13, 2015, she was sentenced to 90 days home confinement, a five year term of probation, 100 hours of community service, a $448 fine, and $7,924 in restitution.  In addition, the Court ordered Caceres to forfeit $5,932 seized from her home at the time of her arrest, representing proceeds she obtained as a result of her conduct.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David G. Lazarus.