Pittsburgh Woman Sentenced for Participating in Tax Return Scheme

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to three years of probation on her convictions of mail fraud conspiracy and conspiracy to defraud the United States, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence yesterday on Amber Eubanks, 28, who was incarcerated pending sentencing. Judge Hornak also ordered that Ms. Eubanks pay $26,000 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.

According to information presented to the court, Sean Brooks, while incarcerated on other charges, prepared and arranged for the filing of more than 100 fraudulent tax returns on behalf of fellow inmates and other individuals and generated more than $200,000 in fraudulent refunds. The fraudulent refunds were sent to a number of different addresses, and, after forging the endorsement of the payees, the checks were cashed through federally insured financial institutions and through check-cashing establishments. Amber Eubanks, among others, assisted the conspiracy in a variety of ways, including receiving and cashing the fraudulent refund checks using power of attorney provided to her by Brooks, and arranging for checks to be sent to the address of a friend, after which Eubanks would pick up and cash the checks.

Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Brady commended the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service and the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Eubanks.