Traveling minister gets 13 years in prison in $4.8M tax scam

CLEVELAND (AP) — A judge in Cleveland has sentenced a traveling minister to more than 13 years in federal prison for a $4.8 million tax scam that prosecutors say involved nearly 1,000 northeast Ohioans.

Allen Miles, 58, of Little Rock, Ark., denied knowledge of the scheme at his sentencing today.

Miles was convicted in April of conspiracy, wire fraud and identity theft charges.

Prosecutors say a scheme by Miles and his co-defendants resulted in more than 2,700 fraudulent tax returns being filed on behalf of church members in Ohio and other states. Prosecutors say Miles obtained personal information after claiming he’d help church members obtain government stimulus funds.

Miles told the court his only role was to obtain names and that others committed the fraud. His attorney indicated he plans to appeal the convictions.