Cumberland Woman Pleads Guilty to Filing a False Tax Return

Kathy Cullen admitted to failing to report funds to the IRS that she embezzled from her employer.

DES MOINES, IA – On June 17, 2015, Kathy Joan Cullen appeared in United States District Court, before the Honorable Celeste F. Bremer, and pled guilty to filing a false 2009 tax return, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt.

According to the plea agreement, Cullen embezzled money from her employer, 21st Century Cooperative. Over a period of six years, Cullen wrote over $1.3 million in checks to herself and deposited the proceeds into a personal bank account. Cullen admitted that she failed to account for the embezzled funds in her 2009 tax return.

Cullen is scheduled to be sentenced before the Honorable John A. Jarvey on October 1, 2015, at 3:30 p.m., in Des Moines, IA. Filing a false tax return carries a maximum term of three years imprisonment, up to a $100,000 fine, and up to one year of supervised release. Cullen is also required to pay restitution, in an amount ordered by the Court.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.