5 Sentenced In Ohio In Tax Fraud Scheme

Federal authorities in Ohio say five people have been sentenced to prison in a scheme to file tax returns in the name of dead taxpayers to defraud the Internal Revenue Service of at least $1.7 million. Prosecutors say four Ohioans and a Florida man were sentenced this week in Cleveland. They pleaded guilty to various charges in March. Some of the charges included conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Prosecutors say co-conspirators directed refunds to Florida locations and checks generated by the returns were mailed to co-conspirators in Florida. A sixth defendant also from Ohio will be sentenced June 8. The six were indicted in January. Prosecutors say the scheme occurred from April 2009 to at least last August.