NEWARK, N.J. – Five people involved in an extensive scheme to obtain millions of dollars through fraudulently obtained tax refund checks issued by the U.S. Treasury pleaded guilty today in Newark federal court, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Julio C. Concepcion 49, of Passaic, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to steal government funds and one count of theft of government funds. Concepcion also pleaded guilty to separate information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with his involvement in a separate mortgage fraud scheme.

Concepcion’s two sons, Angel Concepcion-Vasquez, 30, and Julio Concepcion-Vasquez, 32, and two other defendants, Jose Zapata, 67, and Romy Quezada, 24, all of Passaic, also pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to steal government funds.

Concerning the Stolen Identity Refund Fraud (SIRF) scheme, according to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:..