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Ex-waitress gets house arrest, probation in casino scam

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Three Luzerne County residents are facing a slate of federal charges for allegedly filing fraudulent tax returns with stolen identities and laundering more than $6 million in proceeds.</p><p>Jonathan Jacome, 27, of Mountain Top, was indicted by federal grand jury earlier this month on 31 counts.</p><p>They include conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government; theft of public money; false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims; aggravated identity theft; and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.</p><p>The case was unsealed Wednesday, according to the U.S. Attorney&#8217;s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.</p><p>Jacome used stolen identities to file fraudulent tax returns in 2011 and 2012 and obtained approximately $6.4 million in refunds, prosecutors said. He processed the phony returns through three check-cashing businesses he owned, including E&amp;J Cashiers in Wilkes-Barre Township, prosecutors noted.</p><p>Cindy Jacome, 28, of West Hazleton, and Melissa Castiglione, 30, of Mountain Top, allegedly conspired with Jonathan Jacome to launder the proceeds.</p><p>Both women obstructed the investigation, prosecutors say.</p><p>And Cindy Jacome allegedly committed perjury before the grand jury. Authorities say she gave &#8220;false, evasive, and misleading testimony.&#8221;</p><p>All of the accused pleaded not guilty and were released under supervision, court records show.</p><p>The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service and the Hazleton City Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean A. Camoni.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Joe Dolinsky</p><p>jdolinsky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Three indicted in $6M identity theft, money laundering scheme