Christian Dunbar, the former Philadelphia City Treasurer, has been charged with two counts of filing a false income tax return and three counts of failure to file tax returns.
The charges stem from a superseding indictment that alleges Dunbar participated in three schemes: bank embezzlement, false statements submitted in his application to become a U.S. citizen, and failing to file his tax returns and falsely filing returns.
According to the indictment, just weeks before his appointment to serve as the City’s Deputy Treasurer, Dunbar stole $15,000 from two different bank customers on two separate occasions, once in December 2015 and again in January 2016.
Dunbar also allegedly made false representations in his application for naturalization, including falsifying information about his cohabitation, marriage, residency, and child’s residency. He is also charged with submitting a false lease and a false W-2 tax form to immigration officials.
The superseding indictment newly alleges that Dunbar did not file his personal income tax returns for tax years 2015, 2016, and 2019, and filed false tax returns for the years 2017 and 2018 by claiming business losses resulting in tax refunds to which he was not entitled.
If convicted, Dunbar faces a maximum possible sentence of 174 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $6.025 million.
"Christian Dunbar’s conduct in this case demonstrates a shocking level of misconduct – three separate fraud schemes – for a person who held such a senior, cabinet-level position with the City of Philadelphia," said Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Josh Davison and Denise S. Wolf.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defendant: Christian Dunbar
Criminal Charges: Two counts of filing a false income tax return and three counts of failure to file tax returns
City and State: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Exact Date: Not specified
Sentence or Outcome: Maximum possible sentence of 174 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $6.025 million
Dollar Amounts: $15,000
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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