The state Attorney General reported today that Johnson Coker, 53 of Old Bridge pleaded guilty to filing false tax returns using stolen identities as part of a conspiracy involving several other New Jersey residents.

Coker was charged with second-degree conspiracy and third-degree receipt of stolen property. He was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay $55,206 in restitution to the state.

The state Attorney General reported Coker, a Nigerian man, is not a U.S. citizen.

Coker, along with Adebowale Sheba, 41, of Franklin Township and two other defendants previously sentenced to state prison, were a part of a false tax return and identities scheme which totaled $435,000.

The investigation was conducted by Auditor Thomas R. Bair Jr. of the Division of Taxation Office of Criminal Investigation and Sgt. Robert Walker, Detective Richard A. Loufik and Deputy Attorney General Grugan of the Division of Criminal Justice.