Tax credit scam buys local man indictment

A Philadelphia man has been charged with trying to defraud the federal government of stimulus funds by falsely filing for homebuyer tax credits, federal prosecutors said.

Jonathan Brownlee, 26, is accused of filing federal income tax returns in 2009 for 16 individuals whose names he had obtained and applying for the $7,500 credit, although he knew they did not qualify. Authorities say he is the first man accused of such a crime in the region.

If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 80 years in prison and $4 million fine.