WHITE PLAINS – A Chappaqua certified public accountant was arrested Monday by federal agents on charges that he misappropriated tax refund checks totaling more than $223,000 that were due to three of his tax preparation clients.

Randal Kase, 55, is alleged to have forged his clients’ endorsements on IRS tax refund checks and then deposited them into his own bank accounts or used them to pay off personal credit card bills. He reportedly told one client that the person had broken even and wouldn’t be receiving a significant tax refund.

In all, Kase allegedly misappropriated some 37 tax refund checks.

If convicted, Kase could face up to 30 years in federal prison.