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The Bureau Chief of the Questionable Refund Unit at the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, George Martinez, has plead guilty to money laundering, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Martinez copied tax returns that had already been processed and modified information such as bank account numbers and social security numbers.  He changed the income and withholding amounts in order to raise the refund amounts.  In some cases, he created new tax returns using taxpayers’ information he had access to.

This all began in 2011 and continued through 2018.  This rendered $689,797 in refunds that were deposited into Mr. Martinez’ personal bank accounts.

Martinez is facing 32 years in prison along with restitution.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][us_image image=”3021″][/vc_column][/vc_row]