Newark, N.J. – In a stunning blow to identity thieves, two Bronx men have been sentenced to over five years in prison for their roles in a multi-million dollar stolen identity refund scheme, according to Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick.
Jhan Luis Mejia Marcelino, 27, and Odanys Orlando Rojas, also known as “El Fuerte,” 39, both pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez to charges of conspiracy to commit theft of government funds, theft of government funds, and aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents, Mejia and Rojas, along with others, stole personal identifying information from victims across New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and beyond. They then exploited this data to file fraudulent federal tax returns, pocketing the refunds in cash or other forms of proceeds for their own gain. The brazen operation cost the U.S. Treasury over $1 million.
In a separate sentence handed down by Judge Vazquez, both defendants were also ordered to pay restitution totaling $1,109,938 and face three years of supervised release upon their release from prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick commended the special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Secret Service for their relentless pursuit of justice in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Wangenheim represented the government in Newark.
The defendants were represented by defense counsel John Yauch Esq. for Mejia and Tim Anderson Esq. for Rojas.
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Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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