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EMAILRATINGA model of the Maserati luxury sedan that cost more than Sh60 million. A similar car and a top of the range Mercedez Benz were impounded from a Tanzanian national facing jail for fraud 0in the US. PHOTO | FILE 
By The Citizen
Posted Thursday, September 18 2014 at 09:49
Posted Thursday, September 18 2014 at 09:49
IN SUMMARY
He had one problem, though: His riches were built on a fake foundation—conning old and feeble pensioners. And now, harsh reality has finally caught up with 38-year-old Mtaza.
Dar es Salaam. He led a fabulous lifestyle in the land of plenty and enjoyed luxuries that few back home in Tanzania would even dream of. Amon Rweyemamu Mtaza had made it big time in America, it seemed.
He had one problem, though: His riches were built on a fake foundation—conning old and feeble pensioners. And now, harsh reality has finally caught up with 38-year-old Mtaza.
The Tanzanian national living in Houston, Texas, faces up to 20 years in jail for running a tax returns scam in which he and an accomplice reportedly conned 600 pensioners of more than $1.8 million (over Sh3 billion).
The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that Mtaza pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft.
Federal prosecutors in Houston say the Tanzanian and a woman accomplice were responsible for the $1.8 million tax refund scheme in which they stole the identities of the pensioners.
It was not clear when Mtaza and his co-accused hatched and carried out the scandalous scheme.
According to prosecutors quoted by AP, Mtaza and co-accused Dion Hatch, 40, obtained personal identity information of their victims--including names and Social Security numbers--to prepare fraudulent US income tax returns.
The pair allegedly used this data to electronically file income tax returns. They then had refunds deposited onto reloadable debit cards or disbursed as US Treasury cheques.
The cash, according to the prosecution, enabled the pair to lead posh lifestyles at the expense of their victims.
On his arrest, Mtaza owned two luxury cars as part of a fleet including a 2006 Mesarati and 2007 Marcedes Benz S 550, each with a showroom price of over $40,000 (Sh60 million).
A judge has signed a preliminary forfeiture order for the impounded cars because they were proceeds from the illegal scheme.
US District Judge Gray Miller, who accepted the plea on Tuesday, has set sentencing of the two for January 9, 2015. In the meantime, they will spend time in custody.
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