Smaller tax refund check leads to ID theft charge

April 18, 2008 - 9:20AM
Times-News

A Burlington man discovered that his identity had been stolen after he received his state tax refund and more than $288 was missing from it.

He checked with the N.C. Department of Revenue, which said that he failed to pay his water bill in Raleigh and part of his refund was garnished. There was one catch: He didn't live in Raleigh and shouldn't have had any unpaid debts there.

James Walker contacted the Alamance County Sheriff's Department April 1 after he realized that someone must have stolen his identity. Following an investigation, the sheriff's department Thursday charged Jimence Carlos Aqudelo, 40, of Neuse Commons Lane, Raleigh, with identity theft. Aqudelo also uses the name Jose Armando Sierra Martinez, according to a sheriff's department news release.

He was placed in jail under $8,000 bond, the release states.

Following an investigation, authorities discovered that Aqudelo used Walker's Social Security number to get water service in Raleigh.

Raleigh police assisted sheriff's department investigators. Aqudelo, who was used the name Martinez to get water service, was brought to the Alamance County jail and processed under the 287(g) program.

"They were able to determine that Mr. Martinez was actually Jimence Carlos Aqudelo, a previously deported illegal alien from Columbia," the release states.

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