Hamburg Woman Indicted on Fraud and Tax Charges

BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury in Buffalo returned a 17 count indictment charging Sheri L. Becirovic, 46, of Hamburg, N.Y., with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to file fraudulent tax returns, filing a fraudulent tax return, misuse of social security numbers, and aggravated identity theft. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years, a mandatory minimum of two years for each aggravated identity theft conviction, and a fine of $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Trini E. Ross, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, the defendant obtained the social security numbers of seven family members and friends. Becirovic provided those numbers to a co-conspirator who used them to file fraudulent tax returns for the tax year 2011.

The indictment is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Kevin M. Niland, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Toni Weirauch.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.