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Eliseo Ortiz, 49, of Bartlett, Illinois, Charged with $180,000 Tax Fraud Scheme
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger announced the indictment of Eliseo Ortiz, 49, Stacey Jean Berghammer, 33, and Shannon Lee Trollen, 37, for conspiring to file false state and federal tax returns and claim tax refunds.
According to the indictment, Ortiz, who was incarcerated at Stillwater Correctional Facility, recruited other inmates to provide names and social security numbers for the defendants to use in preparing and filing the false tax returns. Berghammer and Trollen would then complete and file the false tax returns that fraudulently claimed refunds to which the recruits were not entitled.
The scheme, which spanned from 2008 to at least April 28, 2010, involved the defendants and their co-conspirators filing tax returns claiming false wages, withholdings, and other information. Many of the fraudulent tax returns falsely claimed that the recruits were entitled to tax credits such as the earned income tax credit, the making work pay credit, and the additional child tax credit.
The defendants and their co-conspirators obtained payments for their roles in the scheme in various ways, including having checks sent to trusted associates who were not in prison, cashing the checks, and then splitting the money between the co-conspirators, the defendants, and others.
U.S. Attorney Luger praised the investigators at IRS Criminal Investigation for pursuing cases like these on behalf of honest taxpayers.
“Eliseo Ortiz is charged with conspiring to file fraudulent tax returns from behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Luger. “Conspiring with associates on the outside is a nefarious way to steal from the public. I am grateful to the investigators at IRS Criminal Investigation for pursuing cases like these on behalf of honest taxpayers.”
IRS Special Agent in Charge Shea Jones added, “The defendants who allegedly perpetrated this tax fraud scheme systematically defrauded the government and the taxpaying public. IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to vigorously pursue those who unjustly enrich themselves by preparing false tax returns in order to obtain refunds.”
Ortiz, Berghammer, and Trollen are charged with conspiracy to file false claims, false claims, and procuring a false tax return. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. Cheever.
Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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