MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – A Washington County resident forked over $19,000 after getting tricked by a con artist posing as an IRS agent, according to federal prosecutors.
An indictment handed up by a federal grand jury alleges that a man believed to be India, identified as “Iam Bishop,” or perhaps Mihir Jain, contacted the victim in March 2018 and demanded payment of back taxes
Prosecutors allege that the victim, identified in the indictment by the initials C.E.N., wired $8,120 to Trevizo’s bank account and later sent an additional $11,023 to pay a lawyer to cancel an arrest warrant. Trevizo pleaded not guilty this week to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy to launder wire fraud proceeds.
A judge set jury selection for Nov. 28. If convicted, Tevizo faces maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, although the actual punishment likely would be less under advisory sentencing guidelines.
Federal Defender Carlos Williams said Trevizo did not pose as an IRS agent.
“My client did not pose as anybody. … She does not even know the other person,” he said. “Somebody made her a proposal online.”
The wire fraud charges stem from the two transfers that the Washington County resident made to Trevizo’s bank account, according to the indictment. The money laundering conspiracy charge relates to financial transactions that prosecutors contend were designed in whole or in part to conceal the nature, location and control of proceeds of unlawful activity.
The type…
