Former East Bay Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiring To File False Claims

OAKLAND, Calif. – Angela Pellette pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to file false claims with the IRS, announced United States Attorney Melinda Haag and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge José M. Martinez.

According to her plea agreement, beginning in August 2008, Pellette helped obtain tax refunds from the IRS based on false tax returns that she filed. In order to carry out the scheme, Pellette asked others to provide their personal identifying information for use in false returns. Pellette knew that the returns she filed were false because, in many instances, the person whose name appeared on the tax returns did not supply the information reported on the tax return.

Pellette used others individuals’ bank accounts, in addition to her own, to receive the fraudulent refunds. When the fraudulent tax refunds were issued, Pellette and the account holder split the proceeds if Pellette’s personal account was not used.

Pellette, 54, was indicted on July 12, 2012. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 18, 2013, in front of The Honorable Charles R. Breyer, U.S. District Court Judge. 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 $250,000 fine. However, any sentence will 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.

Michael G. Pitman and Thomas Newman are the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who are prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.