SAN FRANCISCO – A Pittsburg, Calif., woman pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to file false claims, United States Attorney Melinda Haag and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Special Agent in Charge Marcus Williams announced.

According to her plea agreement, beginning in February 2009, Peggie Terry participated in a conspiracy to obtain fraudulent tax refunds from the IRS. The scheme involved claiming tax refunds based on false federal income tax returns that were electronically filed with the IRS. Terry provided her bank account information to her daughter, for her to use in this scheme. In December 2009, Terry testified under oath before a grand jury that she provided her bank account information to an individual by the name of “Sammy.” She further testified that “Sammy” claimed to have worked for the IRS and needed her bank information. Terry admitted that she lied during her testimony before the grand jury. Terry falsely testified that she gave her account information to “Sam” at the request of her daughter, in order to conceal her involvement in the scheme.

Terry was charged in a one-count indictment, on April 17, 2012, with conspiracy to file false claims. She pleaded guilty to that charge. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 27, 2013.

The maximum statutory penalty for conspiracy to file false claims in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. § 286, is 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Newman and Matthew J. Klugé, Trial Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice Tax Division are prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.

 

 

 

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