Jose Tirado, 38, an officer in the 25th District of the Philadelphia Police Department, was arrested this morning. He and his brother, Victor Tirado, 38, are charged with multiple federal crimes relating to what United States Attorney Zane David Memeger and IRS Special Agent-in-Charge Akeia Conner call a tax-fraud conspiracy.
According to the indictment, which was unsealed today, the brothers obtained names, dates of birth, and Social Security Numbers of individuals, including children, with which Officer Tirado allegedly prepared federal individual income tax returns that falsely and fraudulently inflated earned income amounts in order to obtain tax refunds that included Earned Income Tax Credits. In some cases, the indictment alleges, Jose Tirado also listed false dependents on the tax returns.
Authorities say he then filed the false income tax returns with the IRS in electronic form using TurboTax®, with tax return funds to be deposited into one of two Bank of America accounts.
The indictment delivered by the grand jury also names “other individuals, known and unknown to the grand jury,” who along with Officer Tirado and his brother received tax refunds issued by the IRS which totaled $507,974.
Both Jose and Victor are charged with conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claims; Jose is additionally charged with 14 counts of false claims, Victor with 3 counts of false claims.
According to the US Attorney’s Office District of Eastern Pennsylvania, if convicted of all counts, Jose Tirado faces a maximum sentence of 80 years in prison, restitution of $407,787.94, up to five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $3.75 million, and a $1,500 “special assessment.”
His brother Victor Tirado faces a maximum statutory sentence of 25 years in prison, mandatory restitution of $407,787.94, up to five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $1,000, and a $400 “special assessment.”
The Philadelphia Police Department reports that Officer Tirado is currently on 30 day suspension, with the intent to dismiss him from the force.
The Philly Declaration 
