A Quebec man has received an 18-month prison sentence for using stolen taxpayer information to file fraudulent tax returns, with a separate conviction bringing his total prison term to two years.

Michel-Ange Bonny of Laval, Quebec, has been sentenced to prison after admitting to a tax fraud scheme involving the unauthorized use of other Canadians’ personal information. According to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), Bonny pleaded guilty to one count of fraud under the Criminal Code at the Laval Courthouse on October 5th, 2026. The court imposed an 18-month prison sentence followed by three years of probation. Bonny also received a concurrent two-year sentence for unrelated charges stemming from a separate investigation by the Laval Police Service, bringing his total period of imprisonment to two years.

A CRA investigation determined that Bonny used taxpayers’ personal information to submit fraudulent income tax and benefit returns without their knowledge or permission. Between March and April 2019, he arranged for 24 unauthorized T1 returns to be filed for the 2018 tax year. The submissions contained fabricated employment income and deductions that the taxpayers were not eligible to claim. These false entries were intended to generate refunds that would not otherwise have been issued.

Investigators also discovered unauthorized changes to several affected taxpayers’ CRA accounts. These modifications included alterations to mailing addresses and direct deposit information, potentially redirecting correspondence and payments without the legitimate account holders’ awareness. The CRA confirmed that the individuals whose identities were used had not authorized the filings or the account changes. The scheme demonstrates how access to personal information can be exploited to submit false tax documents and interfere with legitimate taxpayers’ financial records.

The fraudulent returns collectively claimed $226,809 in tax refunds. Of that amount, $137,988 was deposited into the affected taxpayers’ bank accounts, while Bonny personally benefited by approximately $30,000. The CRA based its public account of the case on information contained in court records. The investigation ultimately resulted in Bonny’s guilty plea and criminal sentence.

The CRA emphasized that identity-based tax fraud undermines the integrity of Canada’s tax system and can affect individuals whose personal information is misused. The agency continues to investigate fraudulent filings, unauthorized refund claims and other serious tax offences to protect public funds and legitimate taxpayers. Bonny’s conviction highlights the criminal consequences of submitting false returns using another person’s identity, particularly when the scheme involves unauthorized changes to government tax accounts and attempts to obtain refunds through deception.

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Originally published on Canadian Fraud News.