A Brooklyn man has been sentenced for his involvement in an international wire fraud scheme that used stolen identities to file fraudulent tax returns, seeking over $35 million in refunds. Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced the sentencing of Xerxes Shevar, 57, who pleaded guilty and received three years of probation along with a restitution order of $290,000.
United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter handed down the sentence on July 10, 2025. The court heard that Shevar was part of a conspiracy involving multiple individuals across the United States, Ghana, Nigeria, and Ireland. The group submitted fraudulent federal tax returns using stolen identities. They opened bank accounts under these identities to receive fraudulently obtained tax refunds.
The conspirators acquired stolen identity information online and exchanged it through email and other communication methods. According to the indictment against Shevar and his co-conspirators—arrested in February 2024 upon his return from Ghana—they sought approximately $38 million in fraudulent refunds from the IRS for tax years 2010 to 2013. This led to at least $10 million being paid out by the IRS.
The indictment also details that around 3,493 bank accounts were opened using stolen identities, impacting about 443 financial institutions. Additionally, approximately 4,563 credit cards were issued using these identities, affecting an estimated 11,468 victims.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. Acting U.S. Attorney Rivetti praised both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation for their efforts in bringing about a successful prosecution.
