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Press Release

Shrewsbury Woman Pleads Guilty to Perjury Charge in Connection with Tax Fraud Investigation

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts

BOSTON – A Shrewsbury woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to lying about her role with a Worcester-based employment agency while testifying before a federal grand jury.

Linda Le, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of falsely testifying before a grand jury. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for May 25, 2021. Le was charged in December 2020. 

According to the charging documents, in late 2017 and early 2018, Le assisted with the transition of several client companies from one employment agency to UT Services, a Worcester-based employment agency. Thereafter, Le performed various tasks on behalf of UT Services, including reviewing and analyzing client invoices and maintaining a spreadsheet that tracked invoice amounts and profit. Le received cash payments in exchange for her work for UT Services. 

In May 2018, Le testified before a federal grand jury and falsely stated under oath that she did not know anyone who was involved with UT Services and did not know anything about a specific client company using temporary workers from UT Services. In March 2019, Le testified again before a federal grand jury and falsely stated under oath that she did not know anything about UT Services and that she did not have any role with UT Services. At the time, investigators were conducting an investigation into fraudulent UT Services tax filings and insurance audits.

In August 2019, Tam Vuong was indicted on fraud and tax charges in connection with his oversight of UT Services and Prime Labor, another Worcester-based employment agency. Vuong is scheduled for trial on Sept. 7, 2021.

The charge of lying to a grand jury provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office; Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Anthony DiPaolo, Chief of Investigations of the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bill Abely, Chief of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit, and Ian Stearns, of Lelling's Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit, are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Updated February 8, 2021

Topic
Tax