Zimbabwe man fleeces US govt of +$100k in tax fraud

A Zimbabwe citizen, who bilked the government out of more than $100,000 in a fake tax return scheme, was sentenced in federal court Tuesday to serve 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 is accused of filing more than 130 false individual federal income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service 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. Attorney of District of Delaware Charles M. Oberly III.