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D.C. man pleads guilty to filing fraudulent income tax returns

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A Washington D.C.-based man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to charges that he participated in an identity fraud scheme that netted more than $315,000 in fraudulent federal income tax returns.

Ezekiel Raspberry, 39, is the second defendant to plead guilty to charges related to this case in recent weeks, the Department of Justice (DOJ) wrote in a press release. The entire scheme reportedly related to 12,000 tax returns that sought refunds adding up to at least $40 million.

Raspberry faces an advisory guideline of 24 to 30 months in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. He'll also have to pay $315,076 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The defendant, along with others, allegedly participated in an identity refund fraud scheme that involved more than 130 people. Refunds were sought for tax years dating back to 2005 and through 2012. 

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