FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 16, 2004
COLORADO MAN SENTENCED FOR DEFRAUDING VAIL RESIDENT
DENVER – John W. Suthers, United States Attorney for the District of Colorado, and James D. Vickery, Special Agent In Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Denver Field Office, announced today that JACK J. CURTIN-HILL, age 56, of Denver, Colorado, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Lewis T. Babcock to serve 41 months in federal prison for implementing a scheme to use an FDIC insured bank to defraud Blanche C. Hill of Vail. CURTIN-HILL was ordered to report to a prison facility selected by the federal Bureau of Prisons no later than February 17, 2004.
On July 22, 2003 CURTIN-HILL was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver. On October 21, 2003 he pled guilty to bank fraud and making false statements in an IRS tax return.
The indictment stated that while serving as the personal secretary and bookkeeper for Blanche C. Hill, JACK J. CURTIN-HILL, the adopted son of Ms. Hill, maintained her personal financial records, including monthly reconciliations of her records with those provided by First Bank of Vail. He also had signature authority over many of her financial accounts.
From August 14, 1995 through September 4, 1998, CURTIN-HILL executed a scheme to obtain assets, securities, and other property under the custody and control of First Bank of Vail belonging to Ms. Hill by means of material false and fraudulent representations. According to the indictment, CURTIN-HILL obtained and sold First Bank Holding Company securities from the First Bank of Vail, without the knowledge of Ms. Hill. He also forged Ms. Hill’s signature on stock certificates representing approximately 435 shares, worth around $1,280,250.
Approximately $919,420.45 of the more than $1 million in stock sale proceeds was diverted to other accounts under his control, and used for his personal benefit. According to the plea agreement, CURTIN-HILL failed to pay any federal income tax on the amount taken. The plea agreement also states that on April 15, 1998, CURTIN-HILL filed a federal income tax return which failed to report an extra $402,885.92 of total income.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to vigorously investigate and prosecute those who seek to defraud elderly victims and violate federal law in the process,” United States Attorney John Suthers said.
“The prosecution of illegal tax schemes of this nature is critical in prohibiting the use of positions of trust to steal money from the elderly” said James D. Vickery, Special Agent In Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Denver Field Office.
This case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agents. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew T. Kirsch.
For more information about Tax Fraud see http://www.treas.gov/irs/ci.
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