Tax preparers facing fraud and money laundering charges in alleged years-long scheme in Chelsea

"Danny Oviedo, while working as a tax preparer, filed tax returns for clients with false deductions and prepared 145 fraudulent personal income tax returns."

"Oviedo fraudulently endorsed checks totaling $222,827.48 and deposited them into his personal accounts, keeping the money from his clients."

"Estefany Oviedo is accused of opening bank accounts where a majority of the 142 fraudulent refund checks, totaling over $217,000, were deposited."

"Pires made false statements on the loan application for a mortgage misrepresenting income, assets, and occupancy, despite never declaring rental income on his personal tax return."

Five individuals are charged with fraud and money laundering after allegedly running a scheme in Chelsea that involved stolen identities and false tax returns. Between April 2017 and July 2021, Danny Oviedo, a tax preparer, filed fraudulent returns with false deductions and endorsed checks totaling $222,827.48 into his accounts. His wife, Estefany, opened bank accounts for depositing fraudulent checks, while associate Antonio Pires misrepresented income on a mortgage application linked to the scheme.

Read at Boston.com