Identities of 28 Taxpayers Allegedly Stolen
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LOS ANGELES — Federal fraud charges were filed Thursday against a Los Angeles man who allegedly stole the identities of 28 taxpayers and used their names on income tax returns seeking $1.2 million in refunds.
Assistant U.S. Atty. Christopher Johnson said most of the returns were spotted as phony and refunds were not paid.
But the suspect, Chuck Nnamdi Opara, did receive about $40,000 from two of the returns, Johnson said.
Opara also was charged with using credit card numbers belonging to other people to buy mail order items ranging from a pair of expensive men’s shoes to the Encyclopedia Britannica.
One of those victimized, according to a criminal complaint, was actor Ted Danson, whose American Express card number was used to order a digital camera and accessories worth more than $800.
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