PARKVILLE MAN CHARGED WITH FILING TWELVE
FRAUDULENT TAX RETURNS

Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today the indictment and arrest of John Thomas Chalk, Jr., of Luddy Court in Parkville, Maryland. Chalk, age 45, was indicted by the Baltimore County Grand Jury on 10 counts of felony theft, 18 counts of identity fraud, and two counts of willfully filing false income tax returns. It is alleged that between 2002 and 2005, Chalk filed twelve fraudulent Maryland tax returns using five different social security numbers, including his own. More than $78,000.00 of refunds is alleged to have been stolen by Chalk.

While a criminal indictment or charge is merely an accusation of wrongdoing and every individual is presumed innocent unless the State proves the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, felony theft is punishable by a maximum sentence of fifteen (15) years and a fine of $25,000.00. Identity fraud more than $500 is a felony and is punishable by a maximum sentence of five (5) years and a fine of $25,000.00. Willfully filing a false income tax return is punishable as perjury, which is a misdemeanor and carries a maximum sentence of ten (10) years.

The case was referred by the Maryland Comptroller's Office, and investigated by the Attorney General’s Criminal Investigations Division and the Maryland State Police.