Mother-Daughter Duo Found Guilty of Scheme to Defraud IRS

On June 19, 2017, a federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Maribel Nunez, 58, and Madeline Rosario, 25, both of Philadelphia, PA, on charges relating to a scheme to steal fraudulently issued tax refund checks for their own use. Nunez and her daughter, Rosario, were each found guilty of conspiracy to commit theft of government property and theft of government property. Both defendants face a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years. Both defendants also face a $200 special assessment fee, restitution, a fine, and a period of supervised release.

According to evidence presented at trial, between November of 2010 and June of 2014, the defendants opened, controlled, or conspired with others to access six business bank accounts for the purpose of depositing fraudulently obtained federal tax refund checks. Specifically, the defendants conspired together and with others, to commit theft of government funds by knowingly converting approximately 106 fraudulent tax refund checks totaling approximately $535,783.47 through the use of these bank accounts.

The defendants were immediately taken into federal custody.

The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Priya DeSouza.