U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of West Virginia Joins DOJ Fraud Division, IRS, and IRS-CI in National Tax Enforcement Surge Exposing $490 Million in Tax Fraud

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey has announced the convictions of three men as part of nationwide enforcement actions led by the Justice Department's National Fraud Enforcement Division, Internal Revenue Service, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation targeting tax fraud and related offenses. The Northern District of West Virginia was a key participant in this surge effort.

Between early September and today, the National Fraud Enforcement Division's Tax Section and U.S. Attorneys' Offices across the country participated in the Department's first-ever National Tax Enforcement Surge. The surge of nationwide resources resulted in prosecutorial actions against 76 defendants whose alleged and proven crimes intended an estimated loss of revenue to the federal government of more than $490,000,000.

"Every dollar stolen through tax fraud is a dollar taken from the American people," said Attorney General Todd Blanche. "What we uncovered during this concentrated surge is only the tip of the iceberg. The Department of Justice is committed to expanding our investigations and exposing schemes designed to evade accountability, because there is no safe haven for fraudsters."

"We have an obligation to the law-abiding citizens of this country to ensure that their hard-earned tax dollars are protected and distributed legally and that those that attempt to defraud the government with tax fraud are held accountable," said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. "This surge shows the commitment of the Department of Justice Fraud Division, my office, and the IRS to taxpayers in West Virginia and across the country."

In the Northern District of West Virginia, three Maryland men have admitted to a fraud scheme involving U.S. Department of Treasury checks totaling millions of dollars. They each pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme. They are:

• Tijuan Arrington, age 49, of Accokeek, Maryland
• David Walters, age 47, of Ellicott City, Maryland
• Gregroy Dean, age 33, of Suitland, Maryland

The defendants worked together to obtain legitimate U.S. Treasury checks issued to real individuals or businesses, creating fraudulent companies with similar names, and then securing Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) through an Internal Revenue Service portal in Martinsburg, West Virginia. The three would use the EINs to open business accounts, deposit stolen checks, and quickly withdraw the funds before any fraud was detected. Some of the fraud was detected and prevented before the defendants could successfully withdraw the money.

The fraud totaled more than $2 Million. Arrington, Walters, and Dean are each facing up to 20 years in prison.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eleanor Hurney and Greg Jones and was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).

This case details one way in which this office has contributed to ensuring that all Americans pay their fair share. To see the successes of other offices, read the national release here.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ("Fraud Division"). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department's work to combat fraud supports President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.