SAN JOSE, Calif. - Sanjeev Bais was charged on April 17, 2013, by a federal grand jury with 14 counts of theft of government property and 14 counts aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney Melinda Haag and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge Jose M. Martinez announced.
According to the indictment, between February 2009 and June 2010, Bais unlawfully used the identities of 14 individuals to obtain 14 IRS refund payments to which he was not entitled. The refunds totaled $258,319.
Bais is scheduled to appear before Magistrate Judge Paul Grewal on April 24, 2013, at 9:30 a.m.
The maximum statutory penalty for each count of theft of government property, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641 is 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. The maximum statutory penalty of each count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A is 15 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years imprisonment. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Charles Parker is the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting this case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by IRS-CI.
Please note, an indictment contains only allegations against an individual and, as with all defendants, Bais must be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
