West Hartford Woman Pleads Guilty To Tax Evasion

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that STEPHANIE ELLIOTT, 42, of West Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to one count of tax evasion.

This matter stems from an Internal Revenue Service investigation into State of Connecticut employees who had little or no federal withholding taken out of their paychecks and who failed to file income tax returns.  The investigation revealed that certain state employees submitted fraudulent W-4 forms claiming numerous exemptions and had no money withheld from their wages.

According to court documents and statements made in court, ELLIOTT has been employed by the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services at the Connecticut Valley Hospital since 1999, first as a mental health assistant and later as a nurse.  ELLIOTT submitted a false Form W-4 to the state indicating that she had 99 exemptions and was exempt from tax withholding.  As a result, no money was withheld from her wages.  During the 2007 through 2012 tax years, ELLIOTT paid no federal income taxes on more than $515,000 in income she received, resulting in a federal tax loss of $73,599.

Judge Thompson scheduled sentencing for May 11, 2015, at which time ELLIOTT faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $250,000.  She also is required to pay back taxes, plus interest and penalties.

ELLIOTT was charged by indictment on April 9, 2014, and is currently released on bond.

This ongoing investigating is being conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Wines.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:

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