Four additional defendants were sentenced in federal court Thursday for their roles in a $15 million conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service.
The conspirators claimed more than $15 million in tax refunds in the names of identity theft victims, and they received at least $2.3 million in fraudulent refunds. The wire fraud scheme involved stealing hundreds of identities, who were primarily nursing home residents.
An Independence man was among those involved in the fraud scheme. Vincent Niagwara Ogega, 24, a citizen of Kenya residing in Independence, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12-1/2 months of incarceration. He also was ordered to pay $69,300 in restitution.
