A ZIMBABWEAN man, who bilked the US government out of more than $100,000 in a fake tax return scheme, was on Tuesday sentenced to 64 months in jail plus full restitution.
Tendayi Mandere, 36, pleaded guilty in April to aggravated identity theft and false claims conspiracy, said Kimberlynn Reeves, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Mandere was accused of filing more than 130 false individual federal income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by obtaining the names and Social Security numbers of individuals supplied by his co-conspirators.
He then sought refunds of more than $600,000 by filing false tax returns electronically over the Internet, fabricating wage information and withholding taxes. The IRS rejected most of the returns.
As part of a plea agreement, Mandere was ordered to make restitution to the IRS in the amount of $114,000, which was the amount he and his co-conspirators amassed in the fraudulent tax scheme, Reeves said.
“This case should send a clear signal that individuals who conspire with others to file false claims against the United State Treasury will face significant penalties,” said U.S. Delaware district attorney of District Charles M. Oberly III.
