By AMANDA LEE MYERS
Associated Press

CINCINNATI (AP) - Seven men from Zimbabwe have been indicted on charges of using the identities of hundreds of Americans to file false tax returns that netted them up to $10 million.

An indictment alleges the men ran a tax preparation business in Cincinnati and between 2006 and 2010 used the identities of at least 658 people nationwide.

Federal authorities said Friday the men sent money and luxury cars back to Zimbabwe. Items seized by authorities include expensive watches and laptops.

Authorities say the scheme was uncovered after people across the nation were unable to file tax returns because returns already had been filed for them.

The men are charged with conspiracy, fraud, identity theft and money laundering. One is in custody. One is free pending a court hearing later this month. The others are believed to have fled the United States.

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Follow Amanda Lee Myers on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AmandaLeeAP

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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