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Tax Impersonation Scam Lands Two in Prison
HOUSTON – A sinister tax impersonation scam has finally met its match as two men, Vedas Engineer, 34, and Bhavdip Sanghavi, 37, have been ordered to federal prison. The duo pleaded guilty in July and December 2017, respectively, after being caught in a scheme that involved over 200 victims across the United States.
The scheme, which targeted taxpayers across the country, involved pressure tactics to pay money via wire transfers to resolve alleged tax debts. Authorities have revealed that those who received such calls are urged to report the numbers to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) on its website.
According to Special Agent in Charge Gary Smith of TIGTA, over the past five years, the agency has received reports of over 2.3 million impersonation-related calls, with over 14,000 victims reporting losses of almost $70 million. Smith emphasized that victimizing taxpayers by impersonating IRS employees is a serious crime and that TIGTA and its law enforcement partners will continue to prosecute those involved to the fullest extent of the law.
U.S. District Judge David Hittner handed down the sentences, with Sanghavi receiving 96 months in prison, the same sentence given to Engineer on May 30, 2018. Both were also ordered to serve three years of supervised release following their sentences and are to pay more than $1 million in restitution.
The court considered the offense, which involved more than 200 victims, some of whom were elderly. The scheme’s scope and the defendants’ guilty pleas were key factors in the sentencing decision.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Celia Moyer is prosecuting the case, which was conducted by TIGTA. The investigation and prosecution of such cases serve as a warning to those who would seek to exploit taxpayers through impersonation and other means.
TIGTA urges taxpayers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious calls to its website. By working together, law enforcement agencies can prevent such scams from victimizing innocent individuals and disrupt the operations of those who seek to profit from their schemes.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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