IRS notice uncovers case of identity theft

The IRS recently demanded a Carpentersville man pay back taxes on pay he received in 2006.

Problem is, the man never worked on the job the IRS cited -- which led police to investigate another possible case of stolen identity.

On Wednesday, police accused a McHenry man of using the victim's identity since April 2006.

Cesar Vega-Gonzalez, 32, of 3720 Geneva Place, McHenry, was charged Thursday with felony identity theft, according to a report.

The 30-year-old victim had received a notice from the Internal Revenue Service stating he owed money and penalties for unreported earnings of $23,706 in 2006.

The notice stated he had worked at Assured Staffing in Crystal Lake and for Snap On Tools, also in Crystal Lake.

The victim told police he had never worked at either place and never allowed anyone to use his personal information to secure a job.

A Carpentersville detective said he found a fraudulent Social Security card and a fraudulent Illinois identification card with the victim's personal information and Vega-Gonzalez's photos on file at Snap On Tools.

Vega-Gonzalez was still working at the company and was arrested, police said.

The detective said he also searched Vega-Gonzalez's McHenry home and found four other fraudulent Social Security cards and a fraudulent resident alien card.

Vega-Gonzalez said he bought the fraudulent Social Security card with the victim's name and Social Security number and the fraudulent identification card with the victim's personal information for $1,000, police said.

Vega-Gonzalez posted a $2,500 bond Thursday and was given a March 6 court date at the Kane County Judicial Center.

Carpentersville police made 23 arrests on identity theft charges in 2007. They have made four so far this year, Cmdr. Michael Kilbourne said.