ERIE, Pa. – Xerxes Shevar, a 57-year-old Brooklyn resident, has been sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay $290,000 in restitution for his role in an international wire fraud conspiracy. The acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced the sentence imposed by Judge Susan Paradise Baxter on July 10, 2025.
According to court documents, Shevar was one of several co-defendants involved in a sprawling scheme that targeted individuals whose identities were stolen to submit fraudulent federal tax returns. The conspirators, operating out of the United States, Ghana, Nigeria, and Ireland, sought more than $35 million in refunds from the IRS by opening bank accounts in the names of these victims.
The indictment against Shevar and his co-conspirators reveals that approximately $38 million in fraudulent tax refunds were requested between 2010 and 2013. As a result, the IRS paid out at least $10 million in fraudulent refunds. The scheme involved opening nearly 3,493 bank accounts, affecting more than 443 financial institutions, and obtaining around 4,563 credit cards using stolen identities, with an estimated 11,468 individuals victimized.
Shevar was apprehended in February 2024 upon his return to the United States from Ghana. Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation for their role in investigating and successfully prosecuting Shevar.
This sentence sends a clear message that there is no safe haven for those who participate in international fraud schemes. The justice system will hold such individuals accountable, ensuring that they face the consequences of their criminal actions.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Cybercrime|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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