Press Release
Novato Resident Charged In Id Theft Tax Fraud Scheme
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of California
SAN FRANCISCO – Parnian Djafarzadeh, aka Parnian Clark, aka Saundra Djafarzadeh, was charged with possession of stolen mail, false claims, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft announced United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Batdorf.
According to the indictment, Djafarzadeh prepared and filed 2010 and 2011 federal income tax returns in the names of other individuals who were not entitled to the claimed tax refunds. Djafarzadeh knew the claims for refunds were false and that the individuals were not entitled to the refunds that were being requested. The defendant was also charged with unlawfully having in her possession a check addressed to another individual that had been stolen or taken from the mail receptacle.
Djafarzadeh, of Novato, was indicted on April 21, 2016. She was charged with one count of possession of stolen mail, fourteen counts of false claims, three counts of wire fraud, and three counts of aggravated identity theft. She was arrested this morning and made her initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Elizabeth D. Laporte in San Francisco. She is being held pending a detention hearing before Magistrate Judge Laporte scheduled for May 10, 2016.
The maximum statutory penalty for possession of stolen mail, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1708, is five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The maximum sentence for false claims, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 287, is five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The maximum sentence for wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343, is twenty years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The maximum sentence for aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A, is two years in prison—to be served consecutively to the underlying felony—and a $250,000 fine. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Moore is prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.
Updated December 27, 2016
Topics
Financial Fraud
Identity Theft
Component