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Man Accused of Filing Fake Tax Returns Through Internet Scam

Man allegedly received $12,711 in tax refunds made in the strangers' names

By Molly Priddy

HELENA — Federal prosecutors in Montana say a man used names and Social Security numbers he received by posting fake job ads on Craiglist to file at least 10 fraudulent income tax returns.

Steven Pjevach pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of theft of government money, aggravated identity theft and corrupt interference with the administration of Internal Revenue Service Laws.

An indictment filed in May alleges that Pjevach posted help-wanted ads on the website between 2010 and 2014 and then solicited personal information from the respondents.

In all, Pjevach allegedly received $12,711 in tax refunds made in the respondents’ names.

Pjevach is a resident of Kalispell and Nevada, with addresses listed in Las Vegas and Henderson.

His public defender did not immediately return a call for comment on Wednesday.