Fort Myers Residents Sentenced In False Tax Return Scheme
Fort Myers, Florida – In a brazen scheme to defraud the United States, Amaury Jimenez Brito, 37, of Fort Myers, has been sentenced 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.
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.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David G. Lazarus.
Defendant Information:
* Defendant: Amaury Jimenez Brito
* Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to defraud the United States with false claims and theft of government property
* City and State: Fort Myers, Florida
* Date: November 6, 2014 (plea), April 1, 2014 – May 22, 2014 (crime)
* Sentence: 21 months in federal prison, $7,924 in restitution
* Dollar Amounts: $1.37 million (total tax refund payments sought), $7,924 (restitution), $5,932 (forfeited from Caceres’ home)
Related Federal Cases
- Fuada Delic, Aiding and Assisting in Filing False Tax Return, Florida 2009 · Florida
- Steven Tidas, Tax Return Preparation Fraud, Florida 2023 · Florida
- Freddie Howard, Tax Refund Fraud Scheme, Florida 2014 · Florida
- Dianelys Armengol Guevara, Tax Return Preparer Contempt, Florida 2011 · Florida
- Juan A. Tony Marrero, Medicare Fraud Scheme, Florida 2023 · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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