The government has seized $194,294 from a Dallas check-cashing business and tax preparation company as part of an investigation into a scheme that stole taxpayers' identities, filed fraudulent returns in their names and then cashed their electronic refund checks, according to federal court documents.
The investigation is detailed in an IRS filing in U.S. District Court in Dallas that seeks to forfeit the money. It was recently seized from Obinna Njoku, the owner of All-Ways Insurance Group.
No criminal charges have been filed.
All the fraudulent tax returns were submitted electronically, using an incorrect address for the taxpayer, and directed the refunds to be sent as electronic checks, an IRS criminal investigator said in a sworn statement.
The same preparer with a private mailbox in Irving signed all the fake returns, the agent said.
The victims learned their identities had been stolen when they tried to file their own returns and the IRS told them their tax returns had already been filed and the refund checks had been sent.
Victims of the scheme live in Texas, Tennessee, Maryland, Kentucky, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Kansas and Arkansas, the IRS said.
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All the refund checks were deposited in four accounts at Comerica Bank operated by All-Ways Insurance Group, which cashes checks, sells insurance and cars and prepares income taxes, according to the court documents.
A woman who answered the phone at the company’s office on Forest Lane said she was unfamiliar with the investigation. She declined to identify herself or provide further information.
NBC 5 was unable to reach Njoku for comment.
