A federal grand jury has indicted a California tax preparer on charges of tax evasion and possession of stolen government money after he was accused of stealing over $320,000 in tax refunds.

J. Russell George

Joseph Usunubu Aluya, of Placentia, Calif., allegedly received, concealed, and retained a total of $321,492.39 in refunds from his clients that he received via wire from the Internal Revenue Service. According to the indictment, for tax years 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006, Aluya failed to report as taxable income the money that he diverted from his clients’ tax refunds into his own bank account.

"I am very pleased that the U.S. Attorney was able to obtain an indictment in this case,” said TIGTA Inspector General J. Russell George in a statement. “Tax preparers hold positions of trust, and when they are suspected of violating that trust, they must face the consequences."

If convicted, Aluya faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of $650,000.