United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

EAST HARTFORD WOMAN CHARGED WITH TAX, SOCIAL SECURITY FRAUD

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Hartford today returned a ten-count Indictment charging JANET SCOTT, age 45, of 282 Park Avenue, East Hartford, Connecticut, with making false and fraudulent claims for income tax refunds, and with the fraudulent use of a Social Security number.

The Indictment charges that for the years 1994 through 1998, 2000 and 2001, SCOTT filed income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service to which she attached wage and tax withholding statements for a fictitious beauty salon known as Marie's Salon. The Indictment further alleges that SCOTT also submitted income tax returns for the calendar year 2000 in the names of two of her sisters to which she also attached fictitious income tax withholding forms for Marie's Salon. The Indictment alleges that, based upon the fictitious submissions to the IRS, SCOTT claimed that she was entitled to receive in excess of $40,000 in refunds from the Internal Revenue Service. The Indictment also charges that SCOTT unlawfully used the Social Security number of one of her sisters in connection with one of the refund claims.

If convicted, SCOTT faces a possible term of imprisonment of up to five years for each of the nine counts in which she is charged with making false and fraudulent claims against the United States. She faces an additional term of imprisonment of up to three years for the single count in which she is charged with the unlawful use a Social Security number.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor stressed that an indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which it is the Government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Ronald S. Apter.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov