David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that two individuals have pleaded guilty in Hartford federal court to charges related to their involvement in a tax fraud and identity theft scheme.
           
According to court documents and statements made in court, between October and December 2010, HECTOR MEDINA, 31, of the Bronx, N.Y., and others, obtained at least 35 U.S. Treasury income tax refund checks.  The majority of these checks were obtained as a result of the filing of fraudulent tax returns, with false W-2 forms attached, on behalf of citizens of Puerto Rico without their knowledge or consent.  MATILDE FABIAN-PICHARDO, 23, of Stamford, used her position as a bank teller in Stamford to cash the fraudulent checks presented to her by MEDINA and others by using the legitimate accounts of bank customers.
           
This scheme resulted in a loss of at least $180,195.77 to the Internal Revenue Service.
           
In addition, members of the conspiracy cashed 19 fraudulently obtained state tax refund checks from New York and North Carolina, resulting in an additional loss of approximately $19,000.
           
Yesterday, FABIAN-PICHARDO pleaded guilty before United States Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford to one count of conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service.  Today, MEDINA pleaded guilty to the same charge.
           
FABIAN-PICHARDO and MEDINA are scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Robert N. Chatigny on April 9 and May 1, respectively, at which time each faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a fine of up to approximately $400,000, and an order of restitution.
           
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Greenwich Police Department and the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force.
           
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Douglas Morabito and Ndidi Moses

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov

 

 

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