HOUSTON — Two men have been sentenced for their roles in a scheme to cash stolen tax checks, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Benjamin Thomas of Richmond, and Kuljinder Singh Hunjan of Spring Valley, New York, pleaded guilty and Oct. 2 and Feb. 16, 2023, respectively.
U.S. District Chief Judge Randy Crane has now imposed a 90-month-term of imprisonment for Thomas, while Hunjan received 42 months. Both must also serve three years of supervised release following their sentences and were ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,483,987.89. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Crane noted they engaged in a complex and sophisticated fraud scheme.
In approximately January 2022, authorities learned of a Houston couple who never received their $2,932,446.84 IRS refund check they were expecting in the mail.