Yerfri Castillo, a 26-year-old man from the Bronx, New York, admitted today to his central role in a sprawling $2.89 million identity theft scheme that targeted the IRS with fraudulent tax returns. The plea, entered in federal court in Newark, New Jersey, marks a key victory in a multiyear investigation into a crew that weaponized stolen personal data for cold, hard cash.
Castillo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to steal government funds, one count of theft of government funds, and one count of aggravated identity theft. He appeared before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez, where he admitted to conspiring with Jhan Luis Mejia Marcelino, 27, and Odanys Orlando Rojas, a/k/a “El Fuerte,” 39—both also from the Bronx—to exploit the identities of unsuspecting victims across New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and beyond.
Between January 2013 and May 2015, the crew amassed personal identifying information, including full names and Social Security numbers, which they used to file fake federal income tax returns. Castillo personally filed these returns, knowing full well the data wasn’t theirs. When the IRS issued refunds, often by check, Castillo converted them into cash or other untraceable proceeds—funneling stolen taxpayer dollars into their pockets.
The total damage: $2.89 million stolen from the U.S. Treasury. The scheme relied on speed, volume, and the anonymity of digital fraud. But investigators from the IRS-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Postal Service OIG, and the U.S. Secret Service in Newark dismantled the operation through coordinated surveillance, financial tracing, and digital forensics.
Castillo now faces up to five years for conspiracy, 10 years for theft of government funds, and a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft. Fines could reach $250,000 or double the loss. Sentencing is set for May 2, 2017. Co-conspirators Mejia and Rojas already pleaded guilty in September 2016 and await their day in court.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine K. Lou of the Criminal Division in Newark. Castillo is represented by defense attorney Edgar L. Fankbonner, Esq. U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman commended the relentless work of federal agents who brought the crew to justice—one refund scam at a time.
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Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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