Kenner, Louisiana – In a striking blow against financial fraud, a couple from Kenner has been sentenced for their role in a massive tax refund scheme. Susantha Wijetunge, also known as VJ, 52, was sentenced to 44 months in prison, while his wife, Manula Wijetunge, alias Manu, 48, was given three years of probation.
Their business, VJ Discount Inc., a Kenner convenience store and check cashing service, was implicated in the cashing of inflated fee fraudulently obtained tax refund checks. The scheme involved multiple transactions, often with tens of thousands of dollars at stake, and attempts to conceal their illegal activities through false currency transaction reports.
Susantha also filed fraudulent individual and corporate income tax returns, significantly underreporting the company’s true income from third-party check deposits totaling over $59 million in 2011, $47 million in 2012, and $66 million in 2013. The Wijetunges reported less than $100,000 annually despite their substantial business volume.
In March 2016, Susantha pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the U.S., mail and wire fraud, while Manula admitted to filing a false 2013 individual income tax return. Along with prison terms and probation, they were ordered to pay substantial fines and restitution to the IRS.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo and U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite commended the investigative work of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and IRS-Criminal Investigation, as well as the legal team led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hayden Brockett, David Haller, and Trial Attorney Michael Hatzimichalis.
For further information on the Tax Division’s enforcement efforts, visit their official website.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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