Rochester woman pleads guilty to defrauding the IRS and NYS Tax Department during COVID
Summary
A press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York dated Monday, March 25, 2024, announcing that Melanie Armstrong, 55, of Rochester, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson to wire fraud involving national emergency benefits, filing false claims against a government agency and transfer of a means of identification. It states that the charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. According to the release, between July 2020 and August 2021 she applied for New York State Department of Labor unemployment benefits under the identities of others and in her own name, receiving $131,400.10 with a total intended loss of $250,916. It states that between January 2019 and April 2023 she filed 19 false income tax returns.
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Press Release Rochester woman pleads guilty to defrauding the IRS and NYS Tax Department during COVID Monday, March 25, 2024 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of New York ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Melanie Armstrong, 55, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson to wire fraud involving national emergency benefits, filing false claims against a government agency, and transfer of a means of identification. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that between July 2020, and August 2021, Armstrong falsely applied for New York State Department of Labor unemployment benefits under the identities of others and fraudulently collected benefits in their names. Armstrong also collected unemployment benefits in her own name by falsely representing that she had no source of income. Armstrong received $131,400.10 in benefits that she was not lawfully entitled to receive. Armstrong also applied for, but did not receive, additional benefits, resulting in a total intended loss of $250,916. In addition, between January 2019, and April 2023, Armstrong filed 19 false income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service for herself, and family members and associates, claiming false and inflated wages and false and inflated federal income tax withholdings. As a result, the IRS issued tax refunds to Armstrong and the others totaling $101,255. Between January 2020, and April 2023, Armstrong also filed 17 false tax returns for herself, and family members and associates, with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance , claiming false and inflated wages and false and inflated state income tax withholdings. Armstrong attempted to obtain $45,363 in fraudulent refunds, but actually received $18,758 in fraudulent refunds. The plea is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent-in-Charge, Northeast Region, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas M. Fattorusso, and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, under the direction of Acting Commissioner Amanda Hiller. Sentencing will be scheduled a later date. # # # # Contact Barbara Burns 716-843-5817 Updated March 25, 2024 Topic Financial Fraud Component USAO - New York, Western Related Content Press Release Cheektowaga man pleads guilty to using stolen credit card numbers to purchase tens of thousands of dollars worth of gas U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Cross Malik Williams, 25, of Cheektowaga, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to conspiracy to commit bank... April 11, 2024 Press Release Federal grand jury indicts four defendants for their roles in scheme that defrauded thousands of companies out of millions of dollars U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Dylan Paul Costanza, 30, Tommy Lee Coburn, 29, Kyle Paul Edward Gibson, 33... March 20, 2024 Press Release Rochester man charged for purchases made on illicit online marketplace U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Brandon Hall, 23, of Rochester, NY, was charged by criminal complaint with possessing 15 or more unauthorized access devices. The charge carries... February 6, 2024
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