Ovidiu Isac, Chicago Leader of Romanian-Based Conspiracy That Obtained $1.6 Million in False Tax Refunds, Sentenced to 85 Months in Prison

The leader in Chicago of a Romanian-based international conspiracy to fraudulently obtain millions of U.S. tax dollars was sentenced to just over seven years in federal prison. The defendant, Ovidiu Isac, oversaw and directed nearly two dozen co-defendants in the United States who used their bank accounts to receive fraudulent federal income tax refunds after overseas co-conspirators filed hundreds of false tax returns claiming refunds in the names of Romanian citizens who had visited the United States on exchange student visas.

At least 470 false tax returns, typically claiming refunds between $4,000 and $7,000, were filed and resulted in a loss of more than $1.6 million to the U.S. Treasury during the conspiracy that spanned three tax years between 2007 and 2009. The returns were filed in the names and Social Security numbers of individuals who had previously traveled to the United States on temporary student visas and had filed tax returns in the past, but who were likely no longer living in the U.S. nor filing a real return in their own name. Isac led and organized the co-conspirators in Chicago and controlled the flow of money to his co-conspirators in Romania. On one occasion, Isac led a group of co-conspirators in physically attacking a group of individuals who were associated with someone who refused to pay Isac his cut of the proceeds.

Isac, 31, a Romanian citizen who lived in Skokie, was sentenced on Friday to 85 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution totaling $1,641,209 by U.S. District Judge Charles Norgle. Isac pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to defraud the United States and theft of government funds. He will be subject to deportation after completing his sentence.

Isac was arrested in April 2010 and was among 24 defendants who were indicted in July that year for their roles in the conspiracy. Nineteen of the defendants have been convicted and sentenced, while five remaining co-defendants are fugitives.

Evidence in two companion cases showed that the fraudulent returns typically claimed large deductions for moving expenses, and the fraud was concealed by electronically submitting false wage and tax statements. The returns were filed in the names of real individuals and employers who likely were unaware that their identities and information were being misused. At least 200 bank accounts in the names of more than 75 individuals were used to receive and obtain the tax refund money triggered by the fraudulent returns.

The sentence was announced by Gary S. Shapiro, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Cory B. Nelson, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James C. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division; and Gary Hartwig, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Chicago.

The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Burke, Jennie Levin and Julie Porter.

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Stephen Talty Discusses "Agent Garbo: the Brilliant, Eccentric Secret Agent who Tricked Hitler & Saved D-Day"

April 18th, Stephen Talty discusses his fascinating book titled Agent Garbo: the Brilliant, Eccentric Secret Agent who Tricked Hitler & Saved D-Day on Crime Beat Radio. An investigation of the life and career of Garbo, World War II spy and history’s greatest double agent.

Crime Beat is a weekly hour-long radio program that airs every Thursday at 8 p.m. EST., on the Artist First World Radio Network at artistfirst.com/crimebeat.

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Harold Schechter Discusses "Psycho USA: Famous American Killers You Never Heard Of" on Crime Beat Radio

On April 11th, Harold Schechter (http://www.haroldschechter.com/) discusses his book, Psycho USA: Famous American killers you never heard of, on Crime Beat Radio.

Crime Beat is a weekly hour-long radio program that airs every Thursday at 8 p.m. EST., on the Artist First World Radio Network at artistfirst.com/crimebeat.

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Teen Gang Mobs Continue to Attack Shoppers and Tourists on Chicago's Magnificent Mile

More than two dozen teens were arrested Saturday night after dozens of groups began randomly attacking pedestrians on Chicago's Magnificent Mile.

Police responded to reports of disturbances around 6:30 p.m. Saturday near Michigan and Chicago avenues. They said a number of teens took to the streets and started fighting.

Police said 28 teens were arrested during the incident and charged with misdemeanor reckless conduct and battery and later released, according to Police News Affairs. Eleven other teens were charged with misdemeanor charges after they allegedly attacked a group of women on the Chicago Transit Authority's Red Line, police said.

"You have over three to four hundred teenagers with mob action, jumping on individuals that are downtown," community activist Andrew Holmes said. "Multiple people have been arrested and I caution those parents that get this call about your child being arrested -- maybe you need to check your child."

Officers began breaking up the attacks by ushering teens to the Red Line. Chaos continued underground but many attackers reportedly left the area. "I just saw a cluster run down to the Red Line," CTA passenger Amanda Dobson said. "I didn't know what was going on. I just kind of stepped back and let the police do what they needed to do."

Police continued to patrol the area on bikes, horses and on foot as smaller groups wandered around the Loop.

It is not clear if the attacks are related to a similar mobbing of Ford City Mall last month.

Residents were concerned that this could be the first in a long line of attacks after warm weather brought on a string of similar instances last year. "It's been happening a lot around here," said Eric Baldinger, who works along the Mag Mile. "Just keep your wallet close and your purse closer."

Others said the attacks were disappointing and feared for the future of the city. "I think it’s very childish," resident Angelica Wilson said. "That’s what wrong with the generation today because there’s always petty fights going on down here and everybody getting hurt. We don’t need more problems."

Thanks to Alexandria Fisher.

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Illinois State Rifle Association Calls for Firing of @Chicao_Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy

The ISRA is once again calling upon Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to fire Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy.  This latest call for McCarthy's ouster comes after a mob of young thugs - estimated to be in the hundreds - swarmed the Magnificent Mile shopping district Saturday night and began beating dozens of innocent shoppers.  This latest mob action appears to be the most serious in a string of events over the past two years involving gangs of youths randomly attacking shoppers on North Michigan Avenue.

"Just like dyeing the Chicago River green on St. Patty's Day, cracking tourists' heads on North Michigan Avenue is becoming a Windy City tradition," commented ISRA Executive Director, Richard Pearson.  "The first warm night of the year, and all hell breaks loose in the city's most tony shopping district.  It should be clear to everybody by now that Supt. McCarthy has lost control of the city.  What are things going to be like when the weather really heats up?  What has to happen before Emanuel wakes up and gives the nod to a more effective top cop?"

"The ISRA has been cautioning folks against making Chicago a leisure time destination for a few years now," continued Pearson.  "Unless you're the kind of person who wants to be terrorized, beaten, raped or robbed, then you should definitely find another place to vacation.  For the law-abiding citizen, Chicago has become just too dangerous to visit."

"While vicious mobs have been busily destroying Chicago's tourism industry, Mayor Emanuel and Supt. McCarthy have been busy as well – vilifying law abiding firearm owners," said Pearson.  "If they spent more time thwarting crime and less time trying to take guns away from hunters and sportsmen, then Chicago might be a better place in which to live and work."

"The sad events of Saturday night will certainly bolster efforts to pass concealed carry legislation down in Springfield," said Pearson.  "Good people have a right to defend themselves against lawless thugs.  I'm positive that the prospect of encountering armed citizens would make such flash mobs vaporize in a hurry."

The ISRA is the state's leading advocate of safe, lawful and responsible firearms ownership.  For more than a century, the ISRA has represented the interests of millions of law-abiding Illinois firearm owners.

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