Ex-Rhode Island State Representative Heading to Prison for Tax Refund Scheme

A former Rhode Island state representative who admitted to running a scheme at his tax preparation business is headed to prison.

The Providence Journal reports a federal judge on Tuesday sentenced 51-year-old Leon Tejada to a year and a day behind bars.

The Providence resident pleaded guilty last year to charges he falsified tax returns without his clients' knowledge to get them larger refunds. Authorities say he also skimmed money from clients' refunds into his own bank accounts.

Federal prosecutors say the scheme cost the government more than $54,000. His lawyer says he's paid nearly $25,000 in restitution.

Tejada served as a Democrat in the Rhode Island legislature from 2001 to 2006 and was a member of the Providence City Council from 2009 to 2010. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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