Madison man charged with $500K in tax fraud, ID theft

A Madison man was charged last week with $500,000 in tax fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to a release.

Juan Tamez Diaz, 41, was charged May 11 in a 63-count indictment, officials said.

The indictment was unsealed Thursday after Tamez Diaz’s arrest at his residence in Madison, according to the release.

The indictment alleges that from January 2009 to May 2015, Tamez Diaz obtained individuals’ names, Social Security numbers and individual taxpayer identification numbers.

According to the release, he also obtained employer information from six legitimate companies, and then used the information to create fake W-2 forms with the names of individuals not actually employed by the companies.

Tamez Diaz used the information and the fake W-2 forms to prepare and file false federal income tax returns, according to the release. The indictment alleges that he filed 130 false income tax returns with the IRS, seeking fraudulent refunds totaling about $588,000.

Officials said Tamez Diaz got about $456,000 in refunds.

The indictment also charges Tamez Diaz with filing 10 false federal income tax returns in his own name. In those returns, he falsely reported his income.

Tamez Diaz faces life in prison if found guilty on all charges.