Adrian Espiridion Lugo, 29, formerly of Buckeye, Espiridion Adrian Lugo, also known as Adrian Espiridion Lugo, entered a plea of guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud the Governmentm and Aggravated Identify Theft, on October 10, 2012.
Lugo was arrested on January 24, 2012, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on identity theft and tax fraud charges. Lugo was charged with using stolen identities to file false tax returns. The 104 count indictment charged Lugo with one count of conspiracy, 34 counts of false claims, 34 counts of wire fraud, one count of transactional money laundering/aiding and abetting, and 34 counts of aggravated identity theft.
According to the indictment, while a resident of Buckeye, Lugo operated a tax preparation business called Uncle Sam’s Tax Service. Between 2008 and 2009, Lugo used stolen names and social security numbers of deceased individuals to file false tax returns that fraudulently claimed refunds. Further, Lugo had the fraudulent refunds delivered to him or deposited into accounts that he controlled. Lugo filed approximately 34 income tax returns and claimed over $279,000 in Federal tax refund payments.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by agents of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations Division.
Sentencing set for January 14, 2013 in Phoenix. Lugo was indicted on January 3, 2012.