Buffalo Man Indicted on Conspiracy and Aggravated Identity Theft Charges

BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury in Buffalo has returned a 66-count indictment charging Clifton Jackson, 44, of Buffalo, N.Y., with  conspiracy to unlawfully use Social Security numbers,  conspiracy and the filing of false tax returns in 2011, and aggravated identity theft. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both.

            Assistant U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, the defendant devised a scheme to defraud individuals and the United States Government by obtaining and using the names and social security numbers issued to several individuals. Jackson then used that information to file fraudulent tax returns for the tax year 2011with the IRS.          

            The defendant  will be arraigned on the charges on May 1, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr.

            The indictment is the culmination of an investigation on the part of  Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of  Special Agent- in-Charge Toni M. Weirauch,  and the United States Postal Inspection Service under the direction of Kevin Niland, Inspector in Charge, Boston Division.

            The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.