A Bend man was indicted by a federal court late last month for allegedly filing fraudulent documents to obtain tax refunds to which he was not entitled, and attempting to retaliate against federal employees, including the Secretary of the Treasury.

According to the indictment, in 2008 and 2010, Mark T. Ellis filed four claims with the Internal Revenue Service for tax refunds totalling nearly $900,000 while knowing his claims were “false, fictitious and fraudulent.” The IRS issued Ellis one refund for more than $311,000, the indictment states.

In 2010, the indictment alleges, Ellis filed false liens against the property of federal employees Ron Robinson and Timothy Geithner, then the Secretary of the Treasury. In 2011, Ellis allegedly filed another lien, against the property of Jonathon Dittman, an IRS investigator.

Ellis’ next court date has not been set.

— From staff reports