COLUMBUS, Ohio – A long prison sentence awaits a Columbus man who tried to rip off the federal government to the tune of more than a million dollars.
Jonathan Webster, 34, pleaded guilty yesterday to federal identity theft and wire fraud charges, according to the office of Carter Stewart, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio.
Stewart says Webster faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Webster admitted to getting Social Security numbers through fake charities, then filing more than 500 phony tax returns in his victims’ names.
Prosecutors say Webster collected more than $1.6 million between January of 2010 and February through his scheme.
According to court documents, Webster set-up websites in the names of various fictitious charities, such as The Angel Charity and 4 the Glory Charity, which claimed to offer financial assistance to the needy, but never provided any.
Prosecutors say he collected personal information, including Social Security numbers and dates of birth, using the stolen identities to file more than 500 false income tax returns for the 2009-2012 tax years, claiming at least $1,635,164 in refunds he was not entitled to, Stewart’s office said.