DONNA — Police here arrested a man Thursday who allegedly scammed multiple people out of their tax refunds.
Juan Jose Garcia, 37, faces multiple charges including forgery of a financial instrument and theft, according to a Donna police news release.
Five people reported having their federal income tax refunds transferred to a prepaid card without their knowledge after Garcia prepared their tax returns.
The Donna Police Department’s investigation into Garcia began April 2 after a woman reported that he had transferred her $2,506 return into a Walmart prepaid card.
Garcia is an employee of a local tax office, but police did not divulge the name of his employer.
He previously pleaded guilty to forgery of a financial instrument in 2016 for attempting to cash a $700 forged check in 2012, according to court records. He was fined $750 and placed on a two-year deferred probation.
Garcia’s probation was extended another two years in February after he was convicted of displaying a fictitious motor vehicle registration.
Investigators are asking anyone else who believe they may be a victim to contact Donna Police Department at (956) 464-4481.
