EDISON - An IRS revenue officer assigned to the Edison office is being accused of a multi-year scheme of filing false tax returns, concealing income and identity theft, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

James C. Brewer, a Staten Island resident, was arrested in Las Vegas on a 28-count indictment unsealed Thursday charging him with wire and mail fraud, filing false tax returns, aggravated identity theft and perjury, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly T. Currie.

"While employed by the IRS to enforce our nation's laws, it is alleged that James Brewer was himself breaking these laws," Currie stated in a news release.

According to the indictment, Brewer operated two businesses in violation of IRS regulations - he prepared tax returns and sold designer clothes, collectible toys, sports memorabilia and other items through eBay, Currie said in the statement.

Brewer failed to report income he received for the unauthorized tax business, underreported Internet sales and listed false dependents and deductions, according to the indictment.



The revenue officer also prepared and filed false tax returns for others, the indictment alleges.

"In doing so, Brewer listed the names and Social Security numbers of various individuals on those tax returns as dependents without those individuals' authorization," the indictment alleges.

The indictment also alleges Brewer fraudulently obtained a tax credit for first-time homebuyers by lying about his residency when he testified in a matter in United States Tax Court in New York.

Brewer will be arraigned Friday afternoon in a federal court in Las Vegas.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.