(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - A Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center inmate is accused of running a tax fraud scheme while he was behind bars.

Robert J. Bonavita, 46, has been charged with Forgery, Conspiracy to Commit Forgery, Fraud on a Financial Institution, and Conspiracy to Commit Fraud, all Class C felonies, according to a press release from the Dearborn County Prosecutor’s Office.

Dearborn County Special Crimes Unit detectives investigated and found Bonavita solicited and obtained other inmates’ personal information. He used a non-existent company in order to file fraudulent tax returns.

The inmates would then receive the tax return checks, from which Bonavita would receive a portion of the refund as payment for preparing the taxes.

Bonavita has been in jail since October 6 on prior charges of Forgery, Theft, and Check Deception.