Destin Bookkeeper Indicted on 196 Counts of Fraud and Tax Crimes

PENSACOLA, FL—Barbara A. Abraham, 38, of Destin, Florida, appeared in federal court yesterday to answer a 196 count indictment charging her with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and the filing of false federal income tax returns, announced United States Attorney Pamela C. Marsh, Northern District of Florida.

The indictment alleges that, between 2005 and 2009, while working as bookkeeper for Hart Dynamics, Inc., in Destin, Abraham made 190 business checks payable to herself or her credit card companies without authorization. The checks totaled more than $480,000. The indictment also alleges that Abraham filed false federal income tax returns for the years 2004 through 2008. She is alleged to have knowingly omitted from her individual income tax returns income in the amount of $134,806 for 2004, $229,125 for 2005, $174,737 for 2006, $148,237 for 2007, and $129,932 for 2008. Abraham is also charged with one count of aggravated identity theft for the use of another’s identification in relation to the 190 counts of wire fraud.

Trial in the matter is scheduled for January 3, 2011, before United States District Judge Casey Rodgers in United States District Court in Pensacola.

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment for each count of wire fraud, a maximum of three years’ imprisonment for each count of filing a false income tax return, and a mandatory consecutive term of two years’ imprisonment for aggravated identity theft.

United States Attorney Marsh praised the work of IRS Criminal Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, whose joint investigation led to the indictment in this case.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Goldberg.

An indictment is merely a formal charge by the grand jury. Each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.