New Hampshire Woman Pleads Guilty to False Check and Tax Charges

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Julie Ann Garrow of New Hampshire, a former part-time bookkeeper for Bellows Falls printing company Vermont Graphics, pled guilty today before the Hon. J. Garvan Murtha to a two-count superseding information charging her with the uttering a forged instrument and making a false statement on a tax return.

According to the charging document, Garrow served as bookkeeper for Vermont Graphics between 1994 and October 2008. As part of her duties with Vermont Graphics, Garrow had access to the company’s checks, but did not have authority to sign them or write checks to herself. Nevertheless, the information alleges, from approximately March 1994 until October 2008, Garrow forged authorized signatures and altered payment amounts on corporate checks for her own benefits. Garrow further failed to pay taxes on the fraudulently obtained funds, resulting in an understatement of her income on her 2003 to 2008 tax returns. As part of the plea agreement, Garrow agreed to pay restitution in amounts to be determined by the Court of up to $607,739.00 to Vermont Graphics and up to $81,325.00 to the Internal Revenue Service.

Garrow faces a maximum possible term of imprisonment of up to 10 years on the forged instrument count and up to three years on the tax count; however, the actual sentence will be determined in accordance with the federal sentencing guidelines. Garrow is represented by Elizabeth D. Mann, Esq. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia A. P. Cowles handled the case for the government. The U.S. Attorney’s Office credited the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in Rutland, Vermont, and the Internal Revenue Service Boston Field Office, with the investigation.