NEW YORK, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- A New York accountant and his city-worker accomplice stole orphans' IDs and sold them to clients who claimed them as dependents on their tax returns.
David Thomas of Queens, who is also a deputy sheriff, was charged with tax fraud and identity theft Tuesday for stealing dozens of Social Security numbers provided by a clerk at the city's Administration for Children's Services who had access to the agency's database, the New York Post reported.
Thomas allegedly paid $150 for each Social Security number, then charged his clients $500 for each dependent they falsely claimed.
"These two city employees misused their positions and authority in a scheme to make money" off underprivileged children, said City Investigation Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn.
Thomas is free on a $250,000 bond.
