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For Immediate Release:  
For Further Information:
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April 2, 2007  

Division of Criminal Justice
609-292-4791

Office of The Attorney General
- Stuart Rabner, Attorney General
Division of Criminal Justice
-
Gregory A. Paw, Director

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Paterson Man Sentenced to Prison for Stealing $210,000 by Filing False Claims for State Tax Refunds and Homestead Rebates

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TRENTON – Attorney General Stuart Rabner and Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced that a Paterson man was sentenced to prison today for stealing $210,035 by fraudulently obtaining hundreds of New Jersey tax refund and homestead rebate checks.

According to Director Paw, Mack Barden, 58, of Paterson, was sentenced to five years in state prison by Superior Court Judge Ernest M. Caposela in Passaic County. Barden pleaded guilty on Jan. 18 to second-degree theft by deception, a charge contained in a state grand jury indictment obtained by the Division of Criminal Justice in July 2006. As part of the plea agreement, Barden agreed to pay full restitution to the New Jersey Division of Taxation.

An investigation by the Division of Taxation revealed that Barden, a truck driver who earned additional income by preparing tax returns, submitted hundreds of fraudulent New Jersey gross income tax returns and homestead rebate applications between 1997 and 2005 using false names and social security numbers. Barden submitted altered W-2 forms with the tax returns, including forms from his tax preparation clients.

In pleading guilty, Barden admitted that he obtained and cashed 418 state tax refund checks totaling $197,837 and 120 state homestead rebate checks totaling $12,198. The Division of Taxation uncovered the scheme after noticing numerous refund checks being mailed to the same post office box addresses leased by Barden. Barden cashed the checks against his personal bank accounts or through independent check cashing agencies.

“This defendant had a system for stealing from the taxpayers of New Jersey,” said Attorney General Rabner. “I’m pleased to say that his system ran smack into the justice system by way of Treasury’s audit and our prosecution. Prison is the proper sentence for this kind of theft.”

“With this year's tax season upon us, it is important that people know that we are vigilant in our enforcement of New Jersey's tax laws,” said acting Division of Taxation Director Maureen Adams. “This sentence shows the effect of our joint efforts on behalf of New Jersey taxpayers.”

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Denise Grugan. The investigation was conducted by Auditor Lee Roach of the Division of Taxation - Office of Criminal Investigation.

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