Delco man accused of false tax-return scheme

Posted by Press Release on February 5, 2016

A Delaware County man was charged by superseding indictment with conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, misuse of Social Security numbers, and aiding or assisting in tax preparation of false federal income tax returns, announced U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger in a press release.

According to the indictment, Jean Baptiste “Alex “Alvarez, 43, of Aldan, and an accomplice engaged in a scheme to obtain payment through the preparation and filing of false U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns. Alvarez allegedly stole personal identifying information, including names and SSNs of more than 180 individuals, from a health-care facility where he worked, which was not identified in the indictment.

The indictment further alleges that Alvarez sold and distributed the above-described stolen personal identifying information so others could obtain payment of false claims through the filing of fraudulent tax returns using the stolen identities.

If convicted, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison with a maximum possible sentence of 44 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a possible fine, and a $1,100 special assessment. The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigations and the FBI, the release said.