Man Gets 15 Months for False Tax Claims

A federal judge on Thursday sentenced a Sherman Oaks man to 15 months in prison for fraudulently trying to get $1.2 million in federal tax refunds.

Chuck Nnamdi Opara, 32, stole 24 identities, which he used to file fraudulent tax returns over the Internet, said Thom Mrozek, spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office.

Opara pleaded guilty in 2000 to two counts each of making false claims to the government and identity theft.

“This was a very orchestrated effort to make these claims,” Mrozek said. “But he didn’t get a dime from the scheme because IRS red flags went up.”

The Internal Revenue Service intercepted the returns before any money was paid.

Opara used insiders at area businesses to provide him with customers’ information and then set up mailboxes in each name, Mrozek said. Opara sought refunds as high as $82,637.