Bronx Man Admits Theft Of Government Property & Aggravated Identity Theft

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Published on June 12, 2019, 4:35 pm
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A Bronx, New York, man today admitted his role in a scheme to obtain and ultimately cash more than $1 million in fraudulent income tax refund checks issued by the United States, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Wellington Feliz, 36, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court to two counts of an indictment charging him with theft of government property (Count Two) and aggravated identity theft (Count Four).

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Feliz admitted that he and his conspirators deposited over $1 million in fraudulently obtained income tax refund checks into bank accounts controlled by him.

Stolen Identity Refund Fraud (SIRF) schemes generally share a number of hallmarks. Perpetrators obtain personal identifying information, including Social Security numbers and dates of birth, from unwitting individuals, who often reside in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. They complete IRS-1040 tax return forms using the fraudulently obtained information and falsifying wages earned, taxes withheld and other data, always ensuring that fraudulent tax return generates a refund. The perpetrators then direct the U.S. Treasury Department to mail the refund checks to locations they control or can access. In some cases, they bribe mail carriers to remove the refund checks from their mail routes. With the fraudulently obtained refund checks in hand, the perpetrators generate cash proceeds by depositing the checks into bank accounts they control.

Feliz admitted that he knew that the approximately 180 tax refund checks that he and others deposited into bank accounts under his direct control did not belong to him or the company named on the bank account. He admitted to personally withdrawing funds from these accounts and profiting from his role in the scheme. He also admitted that he knew that the checks were issued by the IRS and the U.S. Treasury, and that it was illegal to deposit the tax refund checks and use the proceeds for his own benefit.

Feliz was initially charged with six co-defendants (Luis Pena, Lourdes Ortiz, Raymundo Hernandez, Isaias Hernandez, and Gloria Rivera of the Bronx, New York; and Fausto Bernard of Newark) in a criminal complaint alleging conspiracy to commit theft of government funds, relating to a SIRF scheme that caused more than $2.6 million in losses to the United States government. Feliz and Isaias Hernandez were later charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit theft of government funds, theft of government funds, and aggravated identity theft. After being charged by complaint, Feliz violated the terms of his pretrial release conditions and fled to the Dominican Republic. In April 2019, Feliz was extradited to the District of New Jersey.

All six co-defendants have pleaded guilty to and have been sentenced for their roles in the scheme. One additional conspirator, Angel Fernandez of Newark, has also pleaded guilty to charges regarding his participation in the conspiracy. All have been ordered to pay restitution to victims and forfeiture to the United States.

The theft of government property charge to which Feliz pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of the greater of $250,000, twice the gross amount of any pecuniary gain that any persons derived from the offense; or twice the gross amount of any pecuniary loss sustained by any victims of the offense. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory sentence of two years, which must run consecutively to any term of imprisonment imposed on the theft of government property charge. Sentencing is scheduled for September 24, 2019.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge John R. Tafur; special agents of the U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Mark McKevitt; special agents of the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi; and inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge James Buthorn, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francesca Liquori and Sara F. Merin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

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Defense counsel: Laurie M. Fierro Esq., Kinnelon, New Jersey

Te Feliz Indictment could be viewed here.

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