NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 13, 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 that GLORIA J. BEARDSLEY was sentenced February 5, 2003 in Federal District Court in Billings. BEARDSLEY plead guilty on October 15, 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 failing to file a federal income tax return for the year 1999. BEARDSLEY had failed to report the receipt of $91,411 in taxable income. Federal District Judge Richard F. Cebull sentenced BEARDSLEY to 1 year and 3 months imprisonment, ordered her to pay $215,636.00 and added 3 years supervised release.

       A federal grand jury on March 21, 2002 indicted BEARDSLELY on four charges of tax fraud, one charge of theft of government funds, and one charge of filing a false claim. Beginning on October 17, 1995 through December 9, 1999, BEARDSLEY embezzled money as a contract employee from an Area VII Agency on Aging by issuing herself unauthorized checks totaling approximately $215,000, and deposited them into her personal account. On February 28, 1998 through August 26, 1998, she knowingly submitted ten false invoices for services that were never rendered. BEARDSLEY evaded income taxes on money she received in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 in the amounts of $33,820, $43,500, $76,350, and $91,411, respectively. The income taxes due on these amounts totaled $56,994.

       United States Attorney Mercer stated "Beardsley enhanced her personal lifestyle by shamefully embezzling government resources intended to help the elderly."

       According to James D. Vickery, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, "Tax fraud schemes that victimize program's for the elderly diminish vital community resources." I encourage everyone who is aware of such fraud schemes to report them to law enforcement, said Vickery." To report tax fraud 1-800-829-0433.

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