Juan Vasquez, Tax Refund Identity Theft, RI 2024

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Juan Vasquez, 53, the brains behind a $2.6 million tax refund scam involving over 400 stolen identities, was today sentenced to 6 years in federal prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. The scheme was run out of Vasquez’s former business, Dominican Supermarket, in Pawtucket.

Vasquez’s sister, Belkis Vasquez, 50, was also sentenced, receiving 3 years probation with the first 8 months under house arrest and GPS monitoring, followed by 200 hours of community service. Both were ordered to pay substantial restitution to the IRS.

Juan Vasquez pleaded guilty on August 19, 2016, for conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. His sister, Belkis, did so on August 17, 2016. Doris Morel, 44, a cashier at Dominican Supermarket, and Erika Tomasino, 44, a secretary to Vasquez, were convicted on multiple charges including conspiracy and theft of government property.

The operation began in January 2010, using stolen information from individuals mostly in Puerto Rico. The funds were deposited into various accounts, withdrawn, and spent on personal expenses, with over $235,000 transferred to the Dominican Republic. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra R. Hebert and John P. McAdams.

Investigation of this massive identity theft scheme was led by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, with support from the United States Secret Service, Postal Inspection Service, and Pawtucket Police Department.