A Northridge CPA and tax
return preparer pleaded guilty today to conspiracy in connection with using the
names of dead people to file federal tax returns, according to federal
Masood Chotani got
employer identification information from his client files and gave them to his
co-conspirator Haroon Amin, of Upland, stated IRS officials.
Amin and another co‑conspirator,
Ather Ali, of Diamond Bar, used the stolen employer data, as well as deceased
people's Social Security numbers and other identification information obtained
from the Internet, to prepare and file fraudulent returns, according to
authorities.
According to officials, the
scheme resulted in the filing of at least 250 false income tax returns with the
IRS, claiming an aggregate of more than $2,000,000 in tax refunds. Although
the IRS rejected the bulk of these refund claims, a number of refund checks
were issued and delivered to addresses controlled by Amin, Ali, and their
co-conspirators.
Most offenses occurred
in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and Ventura counties, state
federal officials. Most of these refund checks were delivered
overseas to be deposited in bank accounts in Armenia and Pakistan, authorities
stated.
Amin pleaded guilty to
conspiracy to defraud the United States on Jan. 25, 2010 and is currently
serving a 30-month prison term. Ather Ali pleaded guilty to
conspiracy to defraud the United States on Feb. 12, 2010 and is serving a
37-month prison term, according to federal officials.
Chotani is facing sentencing five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced on April 23.