Chicago man found guilty of defrauding state out of $400K

A Chicago man who ran a west suburban tobacco shop pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years in prison for defrauding the state out of nearly $400,000, according to Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

Tale Aburukbeh, 37, managed a Glendale Heights tobacco shop, Valentina #1 (or Valentine Tobacco Shop), and between August 2011 and July 2014, he filed fraudulent sales tax returns that under-reported millions in sales, state prosecutors said.

“This business owner illegally pocketed sales tax money that should have gone to the state to benefit Illinois residents who rely on important state programs,” Madigan said in a statement.

The investigation was conducted by the Illinois Department of Revenue, which alerted Madigan’s office.

“The hard work involved in the Aburukbeh indictment sends a clear message that we take allegations of tax fraud seriously,” Madigan said.

Aburukbeh, a Chicago resident, pleaded guilty to filing fraudulent sales tax returns and was sentenced to two years, prosecutors said. He was ordered to surrender by January 2017 and pay $392,160 in restitution to the Illinois Department of Revenue.