BATTLE CREEK, MI - For eight years, prosecutors say 34 people used the personal information of Michigan prison inmates and workers and patients at the Battle Creek Veterans Affairs Medical Center to file bogus tax returns in a scheme that bilked the federal government out of more than $22 million.

The allegations against the Battle Creek residents are laid out in an indictment that was unsealed Monday charging each of them with conspiracy to commit tax fraud, according to a news release issued Tuesday by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Grand Rapids.

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Prosecutors allege that Derrick J. Gibson, 52, led 33 co-conspirators who used personal identification information "obtained in part" from Michigan Department of Corrections inmates and workers and patients at the VA Medical Center to file at least 4,668 federal income tax returns from 2007 through 2014 "claiming false, fictitious, and fraudulent refunds totaling over $22 million."

The charges are the result of an investigation that authorities said included the Internal Revenue Service, the VA Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Department of Homeland Security, Michigan State Police, Calhoun County Sheriff's Office and the Battle Creek and Albion police departments.

"The American tax system is designed to provide important services to the American people," Jarod J. Koopman, special agent in charge of IRS Criminal Investigations, said in the news release. "It will not be used as the personal piggy bank for thieves and those who assist them. The allegations in this case show a blatant disregard of the law,"

As of Tuesday, prosecutors said 24 of the 34 defendants had been arrested. They each face a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison if convicted of conspiracy to commit tax fraud.

In addition to Gibson, those indicted, all from Battle Creek, are:

Stephanie T. Baker, 34

Sandria M. Blakley, 34

Romell Bolden, 25

Rosemary Boyd, 53

Shameika N. Carr-McClenney, 33

Romaro Carswell, 45

Charleeta Cork, 39

Keith Cork, 41

Bobby Crabtree, 45

Diallo Dotson, 42

Kisha N. Evans, 36

Rashall Ford, 47

Darrien Gibson, 25

Darwin Gibson, 25

Deqynn Gibson, 24

Devoine Gibson, 51

Prentis H. Gibson, 74

Charmica Griffin, 44

David Haymer, 48

Maiya R. Jackson, 21

Joseph Jeremy Johnson, 29

Lamont Joyner, 25

Chanel McClenney, 35

Shawn McKnight, 36

Scherrie McNutt, 35

Labrisha Porter, 23

Patricia Riddle-McClinton, 60

Alvin E. Stephenson II, 46

Kypree Taylor, 22

Rochelle R. Velasquez, 29

Edward Warden, Jr., 47

Simone Watkins, 47

Latia M. Williams, 41

Rex Hall Jr. is a reporter for MLive.com. You can reach him at rhall2@mlive.com. Follow him on Twitter.