Federal prosecutors say an Allentown woman began planning a new fraud scheme even before completing her prison sentence for a previous multimillion-dollar tax fraud case.
According to court records, Jessenia Cordero and her husband, Jose Baez, are accused of orchestrating a new scheme that defrauded the federal government of approximately $5.5 million through fraudulent tax returns and pandemic-related relief claims.
Authorities allege the scheme began on May 26, 2020—just weeks before Cordero started her supervised release from prison on June 11, 2020. She had previously served a four-year federal sentence for a separate $4.3 million tax fraud conspiracy.
Court documents say the couple carried out the operation in Allentown, Pennsylvania, allegedly using their tax preparation business, JB Multiservices, as a base for the fraud.
Investigators claim Baez and Cordero stole identities to file 316 fraudulent federal tax returns. They are also accused of filing an additional 674 false tax returns with the help of two other conspirators. In addition, prosecutors say the group submitted 168 fraudulent unemployment claims related to COVID-19 pandemic relief programs.
When the case was first announced in 2023, authorities estimated the fraud at about $3.8 million. However, a superseding indictment filed in October 2024 increased the alleged total to $5.5 million.
Another alleged conspirator, Mayerlyn Cordero, was indicted on Feb. 19. Prosecutors say she worked with Baez and Jessenia Cordero to obtain roughly $1 million in COVID relief funds by submitting 13 fraudulent applications between June 2020 and January 2021.
Mayerlyn Cordero faces five counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to file false claims. She was arrested in Florida on Feb. 26 and is scheduled to appear in federal court in Allentown for arraignment on March 19.
Baez and Jessenia Cordero are each charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of conspiracy to file false claims, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft. Court filings indicate that both defendants have entered plea agreements, though the details remain sealed.
Sentencing hearings for both Baez and Cordero are scheduled for June.
