NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 09, 2003

CONTACT:

William W. Mercer United States Attorney for the District of Montana (406) 247-4639

 

 

 

AREA VII AGENCY ON AGING EMPLOYEE SENTENCED FOR EMBEZZLEMENT

       United States Attorney Bill Mercer and James D. Vickery, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, announced today that VONDA R. BREWSTER was sentenced in Federal District Court in Billings on January 8, 2003. Federal District Judge Richard F. Cebull sentenced BREWSTER to 5 years probation, 6 months home detention and ordered her to pay $107,280.00 in restitution. She also was ordered to pay a $200.00 special court assessment.

       BREWSTER pled guilty on June 5, 2002 to embezzling money in excess of $1,000 as a contract employee from an Area VII Agency on Aging, a federally funded program; and filing a false income tax return for the year 1998. The tax return was filed under the penalties of perjury and did not reflect the receipt of $49,403.92 that she embezzled from the agency during 1998. A federal grand jury on March 21, 2002 indicted BREWSTER on three charges of tax fraud and one charge of theft of government funds. Beginning on August 5, 1995 through December 1, 1999, BREWSTER embezzled money as a contract employee from an Area VII Agency on Aging by issuing herself unauthorized checks totaling approximately $107,000 and deposited them into her personal account. On March 13, 1998, BREWSTER falsely filed a federal income tax return for 1997 and omitted $23,895.78 in embezzled funds. On April 15, 1999, BREWSTER falsely filed a federal income tax return for 1998 and omitted $49,403.92 in embezzled funds. On April 14, 2000, BREWSTER filed a 1999 Form 8453-OL, U.S. Income Tax Declaration for an e-file on-line Return and omitted $29,200.86 in embezzled funds.

       "BREWSTER enhanced her personal lifestyle at the cost of her integrity," stated Bill Mercer. According to James D. Vickery, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, "Tax fraud schemes that victimize programs for the elderly diminish needed resources for their assisted care." " I encourage everyone who is aware of such fraud schemes to report them to law enforcement," said Vickery. To report tax fraud activity 1-800-829-0433.

       For more information about Tax Fraud see http://www.treas.gov/irs/ci