BEAVERCREEK — A man is facing allegations of stealing more than $32 million in tax refunds.
Christopher Dowtin, 48, from Georgia, is accused of altering two business accounts to reflect his name and address.
According to a spokesperson from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio (SDOH), he allegedly pocketed millions of dollars in tax refunds.
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In December 2024, the IRS reportedly processed eight Change of Address or Responsible Party forms for two businesses. After completing the requests, Dowtin received two tax refund checks: one exceeding $32 million and another surpassing $26,000, according to SODH.
Investigators claim that Dowtin traveled to Ohio and presented the checks at a Morgan Stanley Office in Beavercreek, where he “sought to convert the funds into a brokerage account under a trust in his name,” stated SODH.
The financial advisor confirmed that the checks were valid U.S. Treasury checks, as reported by the Department of Justice.
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“The affidavit reveals that Dowtin informed the Morgan Stanley financial advisor that the two companies were paying him for improperly leveraging his ‘personhood.’ He claimed that the payments were transferred to him by the IRS. The financial advisor validated the checks as legitimate U.S. Treasury checks,” said SODH.
Morgan Stanley alerted the Secret Service and IRS about the questionable nature of the checks and Dowtin’s supporting documentation.
Law enforcement has since seized the checks, according to SODH.
Dowtin faces charges of wire fraud and theft of public funds.
Wire fraud is a federal offense that can result in a prison sentence of up to 20 years.
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