Police in South Dakota investigating tax fraud cases learned the case is linked to the bay area. Nine defendants appeared in federal court Thursday.

According to court documents indicted by a South Dakota grand jury were: Alphonso Rico Valdez, Charlie Frank Adams, Raunta Stanislaus Ellison, Jeremy Jamar Blount, Melissa Dinataly, Terry Daron Liggins, Christopher Duane Frierson, Marquis Butler, and Christopher Jamel Lundy were arrested. They face charges of Conspiracy to defraud the U. S. Government, and Aggravated Identity Theft.

The individuals were arrested in Tampa Thursday. Each was released on a $40,000 signature bond, a spokesperson for the U. S. Middle District U. S. Attorney’s Office said.

Investigators said, beginning in June 2011 until May 2012, the defendants, and other known and unknown, to the grand jury “knowingly and willfully entered into an agreement with each other to defraud the U. S. Department of Treasury, by obtaining and aiding to obtain the payment and allowance of false, fictitious, and fraudulent” income tax claims.

The spokesman further stated the defendants were arrested and appeared in court in Tampa, however, the case is being investigated by the office in South Dakota.