Date: 08-20-2018

Case Style:

Case Number: 2:17-cr-00372-RFB-VCF

Judge:

Court: United States District Court for the District of Nevada (Clark County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Tony Lopez

Defendant's Attorney: Brian Pugh, FPD

Description: Las Vegas, NV - Las Vegas Resident Sentenced For Filing False Tax Returns

A Las Vegas man who obtained passports from citizens of foreign countries then filed false tax returns using their identities was sentenced to 366 days in prison and three years’ supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson of the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Tara Sullivan of the IRS-Criminal Investigation.

Edwin Israel Bravo-Donis, 32, previously pleaded guilty to one count of submitting a false, fictitious, and fraudulent claim to the Government. United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II presided over yesterday’s sentencing hearing.

According to admissions made in the plea agreement, between January 1, 2015, and October 24, 2017, Bravo-Donis obtained passports from citizens of foreign countries, such as Guatemala and El Salvador. Even though these foreign citizens did not live or work in the United States, Bravo-Donis used their identities to file fabricated tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service that falsely claimed they were each entitled to thousands of dollars in tax refunds. As part of the scheme, Bravo-Donis assisted in or participated in the filing of at least 228 false tax returns in the names of 67 foreign citizens that received more than $500,000 in refunds from the IRS.

The case was investigated by the IRS and the Department of Homeland Security.

Charges:

Count 1 - 18:286 - Conspiracy to Present False Claims

Counts 2-5 - 18:287 and 2 - False, Fictitious, and Fraudulent Claims; Aiding and Abetting

Outcome: Defendant was sentenced to 366 days' in prison.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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