The high cost of inflation
A Hyattsville tax preparer was sentenced to more than three years in prison for filing false tax returns for his clients.
Marvin L. Binion, 59, the owner of Universal Tax Services in Hyattsville, admitted to fabricating or inflating expenses and creating false charitable contribution receipts, securing more than $387,000 in refunds for his clients that they were not entitled to receive, according to court documents.
Binion pleaded guilty to 13 counts of aiding and assisting in the filing of false income tax returns. – Scott McCabe
Fake money triggers charges
A federal grand jury indicted a Maryland man on charges of counterfeiting $20 bills, according to court documents filed in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia.
The investigation began when a D.C. police officer pulled over Melvin Claudius Johnson, of Hyattsville, for operating an unregistered vehicle without a valid driver’s license, court documents show. Police found partially cut counterfeit currency as well as items used to make counterfeit currency, including a laptop computer, scanner and printer, in the hatchback area of the car.
A search of the laptop revealed several images that could be used in producing fraudulent checks and false identification. – Scott McCabe
Woman assaulted near Metro
A 24-year-old woman was attacked and touched inappropriately Wednesday morning while walking on a path near the Vienna Metro station, Fairfax County police said.
The suspect, described as Hispanic, allegedly grabbed the victim from behind and pulled her into the woods before being scared away by approaching people, police said. There were no injuries.
Anyone with information is asked to call (866) 411-TIPS. – William C. Flook
Farragut North pickpockets
A series of pickpocketing incidents at the Farragut North Metro station has triggered Metro to alert passengers to be careful.
Metro Transit Police did not release statistics but announced an increase in activity around the Red Line station. – Stephen Hicks
