Two New Jersey men are accused of filing false federal income tax returns on behalf of county jail inmates who used the refund money they received to pay for bail, lawyers, and other expenses.
Federal prosecutors say 45-year-old Reginald Eaford and 48-year-old Winfred Moses, both of East Orange, are charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and aggravated identity theft. Moses was due to make his initial court appearance on Monday, but a hearing date for Eaford has not been scheduled. It wasn't known Monday if either man has retained a lawyer.
Authorities say Eaford, Moses and others conspired to obtain personal information from the inmates. They say Eaford and Moses would then generate false W-2 forms indicating that the inmates had earned income during the relevant tax year and that federal income tax had been withheld from their paychecks.
