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Nine arrested for tax fraud include several former USD athletes
Nine people, including several former University of South Dakota football players, are facing fraud charges in relation to a scheme to defraud the federal government by filing phony tax returns.
Alphonso Rico Valdez, 21, Charlie Frank Adams, 21, Raunta Stanislaus Ellison, 23, Jeremy Jamar Blount, 24, Melissa Dinataly, 22, Terry Daron Liggins, 27, Marquis Butler, 22 and Christopher Jamel Lundy, 20 are each charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and Aggravated Identity Theft in the U.S. District Court of South Dakota.
Christopher Duane Frierson, 21, is charged only with conspiracy.
The charges stem from alleged criminal behavior between June 2011 through May 2012, whereby the participants would use identities of others to file tax returns and collect refunds. The investigation prompted USD officials to publicly ask students to check their records and secure their identities.
The fraudulent payments added up to more than $500,000, according to a new release by U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson.
Valdez, identified by prosecutors in his hometown of Tampa, Fla. as a ringleader for the operation, once played for the Coyotes.
MORE - CLICK HERE
Nine arrested for tax fraud include several former USD athletes
Nine people, including several former University of South Dakota football players, are facing fraud charges in relation to a scheme to defraud the federal government by filing phony tax returns.
Alphonso Rico Valdez, 21, Charlie Frank Adams, 21, Raunta Stanislaus Ellison, 23, Jeremy Jamar Blount, 24, Melissa Dinataly, 22, Terry Daron Liggins, 27, Marquis Butler, 22 and Christopher Jamel Lundy, 20 are each charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and Aggravated Identity Theft in the U.S. District Court of South Dakota.
Christopher Duane Frierson, 21, is charged only with conspiracy.
The charges stem from alleged criminal behavior between June 2011 through May 2012, whereby the participants would use identities of others to file tax returns and collect refunds. The investigation prompted USD officials to publicly ask students to check their records and secure their identities.
The fraudulent payments added up to more than $500,000, according to a new release by U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson.
Valdez, identified by prosecutors in his hometown of Tampa, Fla. as a ringleader for the operation, once played for the Coyotes.
MORE - CLICK HERE
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