Bradford County Husband and Wife Plead Guilty in Tax Fraud Scheme

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Tandy and Sandy Talada of Sayre, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to a felony criminal information charging tax fraud on January 22, 2014, in Williamsport.

According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, Randy Talada and his wife Sandy Talada appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Matthew W. Brann. Randy Talada pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and tax evasion, and Sandy Talada pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion. The criminal information and plea agreements were filed on January 2, 2014.

Randy Talada faces a total potential sentence of five years’ incarceration and a fine of $250,000. Sandy Talada is facing a total potential sentence of five years’ incarceration and a fine of $100,000. Judge Brann ordered a pre-sentence report to be prepared by the Probation Department.

The criminal charges stem from an investigation conducted by the IRS, FBI, and the Athens Borough Police Department. Randy Talada was employed by the Athens, Pennsylvania American Legion Post 246, being paid under-the-table while at the same time collecting workers’ compensation and SSI, being allegedly totally disabled and physically unable to work. Talada was employed as the Bar Club manager, and during the time that he was so employed, his wife, Sandy Talada, “won” more than $100,000 in small games of chance at the American Legion over a four-year period.

None of the income from Randy Talada’s cash salary nor Sandy Talada’s lottery/small game of chance “winnings” were reported on the couple’s joint federal tax returns. Randy Talada collected workers’ compensation while fraudulently claiming to be physically unable to work.

This case was investigated by the IRS, FBI, and Athens Borough Police Department, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd K. Hinkley.