Two North Jersey Men Plead Guilty In Stolen Identity/Tax Fraud Scheme

NEWARK, N.J. – Two North Jersey men admitted today they used stolen identities to file tax returns and claim refunds to which they were not entitled, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Alidu Dramani, 33, of Irvington, N.J., and Evans Boamah, 30, of Elizabeth, N.J., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini in Newark federal court to informations charging them with conspiring to make false claims against the United States.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Dramani and Boamah were employed at the North Jersey Developmental Center in Totowa, N.J., a mental health institution operated by the State of New Jersey. Using their access to patient information, the defendants stole names and Social Security numbers of patients at the center. They then provided the stolen identity information to another conspirator for use by a tax preparer to file false tax returns under those stolen identities to get federal tax refunds to which they were not entitled. As a result of the defendants’ participation in the conspiracy, tax preparers filed, attempted and intended to file false tax returns for the tax years 2009 through 2011 seeking $396,416 in tax refunds.

The count of conspiracy to defraud the government to which the defendants pleaded guilty is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the pecuniary gain or loss from the offense. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 13, 2013.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Shantelle P. Kitchen, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty pleas.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lorraine S. Gerson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.

This case was brought in coordination with President Barack Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. The task force was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Over the past three fiscal years, the Justice Department has filed nearly 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants including more than 2,900 mortgage fraud defendants. For more information on the task force, please visit www.stopfraud.gov.

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Defense counsel:
Dramani: Peter W. Till Esq., Springfield, N.J.
Boamah: Stephen Wellinghorst Esq., Hackensack, N.J.

Dramani Information
Boamah Information