RALEIGH – A Wilmington man pleaded guilty Wednesday in Wake County District Court to tax charges filed by the North Carolina Department of Revenue.

Stephen Anthony Granger, 34, of 313 Lancaster Road, Wilmington, pleaded guilty on March 10, 2004 to two counts of obtaining property by false pretenses.

Wake County District Court Judge Paul Gessner sentenced Granger to a 10-month minimum, 12-month maximum active prison term. The Wake County Sheriff’s Department immediately took Granger into custody to begin serving his sentence.

The state’s evidence showed that Granger filed North Carolina individual income tax returns for 2000 and 2001 showing that he was employed by local businesses and had North Carolina income taxes withheld from his wages. Granger was not employed by the businesses and did not have taxes withheld as indicated on the tax returns. The returns deceived the Department of Revenue into issuing Granger income tax refunds that he was not entitled to receive.

The charges against Granger resulted from an investigation by a special agent with the Department’s Criminal Investigations Division. To date, 17 individuals have been charged in connection with this scheme and more arrests are likely. Anyone with information about individuals filing fraudulent North Carolina individual income tax returns using fictitious wage and tax statements should contact the Department of Revenue toll free at 1-800-232-4939.

Last modified on: 10/31/07 03:43:50 PM .