A pair of Clay County men has been indicted for their alleged roles in a massive tax refund fraud scheme that netted over $1.5 million in stolen cash.
According to the indictment, Abas Issa and Antoun Arbaji are charged with conspiracy, six counts of theft of government property, and six counts of aggravated identity theft. Arbaji also faces an additional charge of making a false statement to the Department of the Treasury.
If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison for the conspiracy charge, up to 10 years for each theft of government property charge, and 2 consecutive years for each aggravated identity theft charge. Arbaji could receive an additional five years for the false statement charge.
The indictment alleges that Issa obtained tax refund checks resulting from fraudulently filed tax returns, which were prepared using stolen personal identification information, including the identities of deceased individuals.
Arbaji operated a convenience store, Fina Express, in Green Cove Springs, where he allegedly cashed 212 fraudulent treasury checks totaling more than $1.5 million in 2011.
An indictment is merely a formal charge, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the United States Secret Service, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mac D. Heavener, III.
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Related Federal Cases
- Borgella Guilty in $400K Tax Refund Fraud Scheme · Florida
- Ex-Tax Auditor Plunkett Hit with Tax Fraud Charges · New York
- RCI Execs Hit With Bribery and Tax Fraud Charges · New York
- RCI Execs Bribed Tax Auditor with Lap Dances: $8M Fraud · New York
- Jacksonville Tax Prep Scammer Pleads Guilty to Fraud · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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