A large tax fraud operation involving stolen identities has been stopped in Austin Texas. The U.S. Department of Justice announced that seven people, mostly from Texas, have been punished for their part in a scheme that aimed to steal over $110 million from the IRS, with $30 million actually stolen.

The main person behind the scheme, Abraham Yusuff from Round Rock, Texas, has been sentenced to more than 14 years in prison. He's also been ordered to pay back about $30.37 million. Two of his accomplices received lighter sentences but must also pay back significant amounts to the IRS.

Between 2018 and 2021, Yusuff led a group that used stolen personal details to file fake tax returns. They manipulated the system to get tax documents and refund checks sent to addresses and prepaid debit cards they controlled. They then spent the stolen money on luxury items and other purchases to hide their tracks.

This case shows the need for careful tax practices to spot and prevent identity theft and fraud. It’s a wake-up call for accountants and tax professionals to strengthen their defenses against increasingly clever financial crimes.