CLEVELAND -- A judge in Cleveland has sentenced a traveling minister to more than 13 years in federal prison for a $4.8 million tax scam that prosecutors say involved nearly 1,000 northeast Ohioans.
Allen Miles, 58, of Little Rock denied knowledge of the scheme at sentencing Monday. He was convicted in April of conspiracy, wire fraud and identity theft charges.
Prosecutors said a scheme by Miles and his co-defendants resulted in more than 2,700 fraudulent tax returns being filed on behalf of church members in Ohio and other states. Prosecutors said Miles obtained personal information after claiming he'd help church members obtain government stimulus funds.
Miles told the court that his only role was to obtain names and that others committed the fraud.
Miles' attorney indicated that he plans to appeal the convictions.
State Desk on 08/16/2016