ERIE — An inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution at McKean in Lafayette Township pleaded guilty in federal court to fraud and identity theft allegations.

Acting U.S. Attorney Soo C. Song said Tuesday that James Lamont Johnson, 51, entered a plea to charges of conspiracy to defraud the government and aggravated identity theft before U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone.

Johnson submitted false claims for income tax refunds, according to Song.

Johnson entered the plea to allegations that he took the personal information of 56 people who were clients of the Community of Caring in Erie and, using TurboTax, filed about 71 tax returns, seeking refunds from the Internal Revenue Service of more than $100,000.

He and a co-conspirator — whose name was listed in the press release — used the stolen identity information, as well as information taken from W-2 forms from actual employees of local businesses in the tax refund scheme, Song stated. Johnson reportedly received more than $60,000 in tax refunds in the form of prepaid debit cards and U.S. Treasury checks.

Johnson will be sentenced Feb. 26.

According to Song, a conviction of aggravated identity theft holds a mandatory minimum sentence of two years, but the law provides for a sentence of up to 12 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both, for the charges. The actual sentence will be based on Johnson’s record and the seriousness of the offense.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marshall J. Piccinini headed the prosecution.

The IRS, Criminal Investigation department, investigated the case.