Three men have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in a tax refund fraud scheme, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. The sentences mark the culmination of a comprehensive investigation into a complex scheme that involved stolen identity refund fraud.
Imafedia Adevokhai, a 47-year-old from Alpharetta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to money laundering in early 2023. On April 2, 2025, he was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III to 46 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture totaling just over $93,000.
Michael Martin, aged 52 and from Texarkana, Texas, admitted to conspiracy charges in February 2023. In November 2023, Judge Schroeder sentenced him to 18 months in prison with an order to pay restitution of $90,380.60 and a substantial forfeiture amount.
Osazuwa Peter Okunoghae, 46, based in Houston, faced sentencing earlier after pleading guilty to a money laundering conspiracy in late 2019. He received a 78-month prison term in January 2022, alongside financial penalties totaling over $902,000.
Acting U.S. Attorney McGlothin remarked, “The Eastern District of Texas is committed to prosecuting individuals who participate in schemes to steal personal information, prepare and file fraudulent tax returns, and launder the proceeds.” He highlighted the broader impact of such crimes on victims, taxpayers, and financial institutions.
Christopher J. Altemus Jr., the special agent in charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, added, “Adevokhai, Martin, and Okunoghae, along with others, created a complex scheme to steal the tax refunds of law-abiding U.S. taxpayers through stolen identity refund fraud.” He noted the commendable efforts by IRS-CI in uncovering and prosecuting those responsible.
Court information revealed that the men participated in a multi-year conspiracy to claim nearly $5 million in fraudulent tax returns, resulting in a significant financial loss to the U.S. Department of Treasury. Adevokhai primarily prepared and filed the fraudulent returns, while Martin and Okunoghae laundered the proceeds through domestic and international accounts.
The IRS-CI, along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld and Sean Taylor, conducted the investigation and prosecution. The case underscores a Department of Justice priority to address the disruption of the tax system caused by such fraud schemes.
