Crystal Lake couple, 6 others charged in $600,000 tax scheme
Federal authorities have arrested eight people, including a Crystal Lake couple that owns a tax preparation business, and charged them in a scheme in which charges allege more than 200 false tax returns were filed over a five-year period that netted more than $600,000.
Patty Cordoba, 42, owner of Patty's Tax Service in McHenry, and three of her employees, including her husband, Mario Cordoba, 47, are accused of filing fraudulent federal tax returns from 2006 to 2011 for at least four others. The returns claimed bogus income amounts and falsely represented that dependents and children qualifying for the Child Tax Credit were not living in Mexico, prosecutors said.
Authorities say the Cordobas, along with employees Luisa Carbajal, 52, of Marengo, and Alicia Arvalo, 48, of Poplar Grove, also created false Taxpayer Identification Number applications to increase the number of dependents listed on a tax return, and wrote false letters stating some clients had earned wages from an employer after IRS officials requested more information about tax returns.
Four clients of Patty's Tax Service, all of McHenry, also were arrested: Olga Lidia Diaz-Hernandez, 45; Victor Hernandez, 41; Veronica Sanchez-Barradas, 39; and Cesar Besiche, 48.
All eight defendants pleaded not guilty during an initial court appearance last week in Rockford, according to authorities and federal court records.
Each is charged with conspiracy and mail fraud, with the most severe of the charges carrying a maximum prison term of 20 years, and a possible fine of twice the monetary gain from the offense, officials said.
Officials also are seeking the forfeiture of $642,514.
A message left with Brendan Caver, the defense attorney for Patty Cordoba, was not immediately returned.
Citizen police academies near
Two area police departments are preparing to host citizen police academies this spring.
The Aurora Police Department is accepting applications for its academy, which runs for 10 consecutive Thursdays beginning Feb. 26.
Open to residents and business owners older than 21, the academy will explore a variety of topics such as the difference between criminal and civil law, use of force, investigations and juvenile law. Participants will also take part in exercises about building searches, crime scene processing and traffic stops.
For information, visit aurora-il.org, or call (630) 256-5342. The class meets 6 to 9 p.m. at the police department, 1200 E. Indian Trial Road.
The St. Charles academy meets from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the department, 211 N. Riverside Drive, and runs March 17 to May 14.
Applications are due March 13 and available at stcharlesil.gov. Call (630) 443-3847 for more information.
hhitzeman@dailyherald.com