NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A Hammond man has been sentenced to 33 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to defraud the United States.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite says Cedrick Mitchell pleaded guilty on June 17 to one count of triple-object conspiracy to defraud the U.S., to commit theft of public money and mail fraud.
U.S. District Judge Jay Zainey will later determine the restitution amount that Mitchell will have to pay to the Internal Revenue Service.
According to court documents, Mitchell and his six co-defendants conspired to file false federal income tax returns that claimed refunds using stolen identities. The conspirators then falsely endorsed and cashed the checks.
Polite, in a news release Tuesday, said all of the other defendants have pleaded guilty to various charges and are awaiting sentencing.
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