3 hospitalized after serious accident

on Comstock Parkway

A serious three-car accident on Comstock Parkway at Council Rock Road late Monday night sent three people to the hospital.

Two victims reportedly sustained non-life threatening injuries. They had not been identified as of Tuesday afternoon, and the name and status of the third injured party was also unclear.

The first car was reportedly traveling south on Comstock Parkway while a second car was coming up behind the driver at a high rate of speed. The second vehicle then reportedly crossed a double yellow line and struck a third vehicle that was traveling northbound.

No charges have been filed yet, but the investigation continues.

Women charged with stealing, selling IDs of minors in alleged tax refund scheme

Three women are facing charges after a Cranston tax preparation business allegedly sold the personal identifying information of minors for use in tax returns that fraudulently claimed dependents in order to increase refunds, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Peter Neronha.

Evelyn Nunez, 40, of Providence, and Tashia Bodden, 37, of Warwick, were arrested last week on charges of conspiracy to defraud the government, making false claims to federal authorities and aggravated identity theft. Both were released on unsecured bond following initial court appearances.

The U.S. Attorney’s office says Nunez and Bodden are the owners and operators of NBP Multiservices, located on Warwick Avenue in Cranston. The alleged scheme, which occurred from January 2008 to February 2012, involved taxpayers purchasing false dependents – the identifying information of minors, which Nunez and Bodden had allegedly taken from legitimate returns and offered for sale – at a cost of roughly $600 to $700 each.

“Research of the use of dependents allegedly showed that the defendants falsely claimed dozens of children to be foster children, nieces and nephews of the taxpayers when, in reality, they had no relation to the taxpayer,” reads a statement from Neronha’s office.

Authorities estimate the scheme resulted in the Internal Revenue Service being defrauded of more than $1.34 million, and the state losing more than $65,500. The fraudulent refunds were obtained through the Earned Income Credit available to low-income taxpayers, authorities said.

Neronha’s office said a third defendant, Wendy Molina, 39, of Cranston, has been charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the government. Her arraignment in federal court is scheduled for Oct. 1.

The alleged scheme was discovered by the Scheme Development Center, a division of the IRS, during an analysis of tax returns prepared by individuals working at NBP. The IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office took part in the investigation.

Cranston man facing child pornography charges after statewide task force sweep

A Cranston man is among those facing child pornography charges following a statewide task force sweep.

Robert Pesaturo, 29, of 44 Metropolitan Ave., was set to be arraigned in Third Division District Court in Warwick this week on charges of possession of child pornography and transfer of child pornography.

Eight other men were arrested Sept. 24 on the same charges, and were also due for arraignment. Rhode Island State Police identified them as Christopher Roberts, 31, of 41 Charles Ave. in Charlestown; Matthew Golding, 29, of 24 Cambridge St. in Providence; Steven St. Jean, 27, of 59 Pilgrim Ave. in Coventry; Roland Lussier, 33, of 121 Prospect St. in Lincoln; Sheriff Njie, 41, of 104 Vandewater St. in Providence; Edward Belleville, 39, of 35 Main St., Apt. A in Scituate; Cesar Sanchez-Hernandez, 28, of 39 Henry St. in Central Falls; and Joshua Chere, 33, 17 Halsey Drive of Smithfield.

According to state police, the arrests came after the execution of search warrants by members of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Police said the warrants were tied to ongoing investigations.

The searches resulted in the seizure of “assorted digital media … which contained evidence related to victimization of children and technology-facilitated crimes,” according to state police.

The Sept. 24 operation also resulted in the arrest of Vincent Siravo, 35, of 61 Ocean Road in Narragansett. He is charged with possession of a Schedule I controlled substance, and was issued a citation for possession of marijuana.

State police said Siravo is currently on probation in connection with a prior conviction of possession of child pornography. The charges in that case were filed by the South Kingstown Police Department in 2008.

(Compiled by Daniel Kittredge and Joe Kernan)