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N.Y. Preparers Charged in ID Theft

dojThree New York City owners of tax preparation businesses have been indicted on charges they used stolen identity information to prepare federal tax returns. In unrelated cases, Hakeem Bamgbala, and Afolabi Ajelero, owner of Kaybamz , a tax preparation business in Brooklyn; and Oyeniyi Jaiyesimi, who operates a tax preparation business in Springfield Gardens, face trial on multiple counts of alleged wire fraud and identity theft.

Bamgbala and Afolabi Ajelero, a Queens resident, allegedly conspired with Michael Campbell to commit aggravated identity theft and aggravated identity theft. Bamgbala and Ajelero also are charged with wire fraud and only Bamgbala and Ajelero face all 41 counts. Ajelero was also the sole owner of Mo-Betta Ventures, another tax prep business in Brooklyn from about March 13, 1996/

From about Jan. 9, 2009 through about April 2015, Bamgbala and Ajelero, allegedly obtained stolen identifying information about 17 individuals, which they utilized to prepare and efile 1040 and 1040A returns. From about Jan. 23, 2014 through about March 31, 2015, the two proprietors, along with Campbell used ID information of four individuals to print and deposit refund transfer checks, which were then whisked into a second account and then withdrawn.

Bamgbala, Ajelero and Campbell each face a maximum sentence of five years in prison on each conspiracy count,e and a minimum sentence of two years in prison for each aggravated identity theft count. Bamgbala and Ajelero also face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on each wire fraud count.

The second indictment charges Oyeniyi Jaiyesimi, owner of Pace Financial Services, a tax return preparation business located in Springfield Gardens, with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and filing fraudulent tax returns. According to the indictment, Jaiyesimi used stolen IDs to file bogus tax returns with the IRS and obtain refunds.

He also allegedly used stolen IDs, fraudulently claimed dependents and inflated deductions. He faces the same potential maximum and minimum sentences as Bamgbala and Ajelero with a total of 41 counts on all charges alleged in the indictment.

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