Cape Girardeau Man Pleads Guilty To Tax-Related Fraud

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO — A 30-year-old Cape Girardeau man, Darnell Moon, has pleaded guilty to five counts of mail fraud and one count of wire fraud in federal court. Each count is a felony.

Prosecutors say Moon asked other individuals to pose as employees of non-existent companies so that he could file fraudulent tax returns and claim the refunds. Moon split the fraudulent refunds with he individuals he worked with, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement, adding that Moon also falsely identified dependents for himself and other individuals to claim the earned income tax credit.

Moon pleaded guilty April 26. He will be sentenced in May. He faces up to 20 years in prison for each count and fines up to $250,000.

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