Rufai allegedly filed 652 fraudulent tax returns on behalf of taxpayers whose identities he had stolen, the IRS said. The agency’s investigation showed the scheme netted Rufai nearly $900,000, since many of the returns were rejected by the IRS.

Law enforcement has sought to keep Rufai detained pending trial, arguing that he is a flight risk. The new information about his alleged attempts to cheat the tax system adds weight to calls for his continued detention, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Friday in a new filing in Seattle’s federal court.

“Now that the loss and attempted loss associated with Rufai’s conduct has grown substantially, Rufai faces an even longer prison sentence, and therefore an even stronger incentive to flee,” the new filing said.

Cont'd:
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/suspect-in-washington-state-unemployment-fraud-accused-of-trying-to-steal-1-6-million-in-tax-refunds/