Philly cop, brother charged in $500k tax fraud

A Philadelphia police officer and his brother are accused of running a tax fraud conspiracy that submitted more than $500,000 in false claims to the Internal Revenue Service.

A federal indictment unsealed today alleges that Officer Jose Tirado, 38, and his brother, 36-year-old Victor Tirado, prepared dozens false tax returns over a two-year span in order to obtain fraudulent tax refunds.

Prosecutors say the pair obtained individuals' names, birth dates and Social Security numbers, then used that information to prepare the fraudulent returns that they submitted to the IRS. They falsely inflated income in order to obtain refunds like the Earned Income Tax Credit, and listed fake dependents, according to the indictment.

The brothers submitted a total of $507,974 in false claims, prosecutors said. The indictment lists more than 100 false refunds claimed.

The scheme took place from January 2008 to March 2010, the indictment says.

Jose Tirado works in the Philadelphia police's 25th District. The police department says the 10-year veteran is suspended for 30 days with the intent to dismiss.

The two are facing charges of conspiracy to defraud the government, false claims, and aiding and abetting.

If convicted of all charges, Jose Tirado could face up to 80 years in prison and Victor Tirado could receive up to 25 years, prosecutors said.