Former Waukegan man sent to prison for tax refund thefts

A Honduran national was sentenced Wednesday to 24 months in prison for theft of government funds in connection with a scheme to steal tax refunds through identity fraud, authorities said.

Elin Matute, formerly of Waukegan, was sentenced for fraudulently obtaining and cashing tax refund checks issued in the names of identity theft victims, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

According to documents and information provided to the court, the scheme involved approximately 200 false tax returns and resulted in an intended tax loss of more than $1.1 million, federal authorities said.

Matute cashed the checks at his bank and a local checking cashing business, claiming the people listed on the checks were family members, officials said. Matute would deposit proceeds into bank accounts he controlled and send some of the money overseas.

Matute also was sentenced to pay $630,498 restitution to the Internal Revenue Service and serve three years parole when released from prison, authorities said.