Three individuals, including two Nigerians, have been sentenced for their roles in a $4.9 million stolen identity tax fraud scheme. The U.S. Department of Justice highlights the importance of prosecuting identity theft and tax fraud, with the IRS Criminal Investigation team uncovering this complex conspiracy.
Three individuals, including two Nigerians, were sentenced for their involvement in a $4.9 million stolen identity tax fraud scheme. Imafedia Adevokhai, 47, and Osazuwa Peter Okunoghae, 46, along with Michael Martin, 52, conspired to file fraudulent tax returns using stolen personal information. Adevokhai, who operated from Alpharetta, Georgia, was sentenced to 46 months in prison after pleading guilty to money laundering in February 2023. He was also ordered to pay restitution of $90,380.60.
Okunoghae, who was involved in money laundering, received a sentence of 78 months in prison. Martin, who played a role in the conspiracy, was sentenced to 18 months. The total tax refunds claimed through fraudulent returns amounted to $4,945,886, causing the U.S. Department of Treasury a loss of at least $390,220.40.
The scheme involved stealing the identities of U.S. taxpayers to file false returns and laundering the stolen funds through U.S. and foreign financial institutions. Investigations tied the three defendants to numerous victims whose personal information had been stolen. The case highlights the U.S. Department of Justice’s commitment to prosecuting identity theft and tax fraud.
The U.S. authorities praised the efforts of the IRS-Criminal Investigation team, noting that the sentences served as a deterrent for others attempting to defraud the government. The conspiracy was part of a broader trend of stolen identity refund fraud schemes targeting U.S. taxpayers.
