El Cerrito Man Admits Half Million Dollar Phony Tax Refund Scheme

EL CERRITO, CA — An El Cerrito man pleaded guilty Tuesday to aggravated identity theft and conspiring to steal government funds, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

According to the plea agreement, Brandon Robinson, 35, and his co-conspirators stole names of dead people and used them to file federal tax returns seeking refunds.

Robinson allegedly paid cashiers at stores in the Richmond area to cash the fraudulently obtained refund checks. He also allegedly cashed stolen tax refunds and Social Security benefit checks that were intended for other people.

Robinson admitted that he and his co-conspirators attempted to cash more than $500,000 in fraudulently obtained and stolen checks.

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Robinson's sentencing is scheduled for May 23. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for the conspiracy count and a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison for the aggravated identity theft, as well as a period of supervised release and will be ordered to pay restitution and penalties.

— Bay City News; Image via Shutterstock