BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Xerxes Shevar, 57, pleaded guilty and was sentenced on July 10, 2025, in federal court to three years of probation and ordered to pay $290,000 in restitution for his role in a large-scale wire fraud conspiracy, Acting U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti announced.
The scheme involved multiple co-defendants across the United States, Ghana, Nigeria, and Ireland. Shevar and his co-conspirators submitted fraudulent federal tax returns using stolen identities, then opened bank accounts in those names to receive the illicit refunds.
Between 2010 and 2013, the group sought approximately $38 million in fraudulent IRS tax refunds, resulting in at least $10 million being paid out. The indictment details that about 3,493 bank accounts and 4,563 credit cards were opened using stolen identities, affecting roughly 443 financial institutions and victimizing approximately 11,468 individuals.
Shevar was arrested in February 2024 upon returning to the U.S. from Ghana.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted the case, with FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation agents playing key roles in the investigation.
Acting U.S. Attorney Rivetti praised the collaborative law enforcement efforts that led to the conviction.
