Jury finds Illinois man stole $150K through false tax return

HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) - An Illinois man accused of stealing nearly $150,000 from the federal government has been convicted of filing a false tax return.

A federal jury in Hammond convicted 41-year-old Airrion Blake on Thursday of one count each of submitting a false claim upon the federal government and theft of government money.

The (Northwest Indiana) Times reports jurors heard evidence during the Lansing, Illinois, man's three-day trial that he filed a false trusts and estates tax return in October 2012.

Federal prosecutors said Blake provided fictitious figures for his income, deductions and tax withholdings to falsely claim a more than $149,000 tax return.

He allegedly deposited the resulting refund check at a Munster, Indiana, bank and then spent those funds.

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Information from: The Times, http://www.nwitimes.com