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Stamford Woman Sentenced In IRS Fraud Scheme

STAMFORD, Conn. — A Stamford woman was sentenced to two years in prison for taking part in a tax fraud and identity theft scheme, according to U.S. Attorney David B. Fein.

Damaris Peralta, 45, and others received at least 35 income tax refund checks by filing fraudulent returns with false W-2 forms for Puerto Rican residents without their knowledge, a news release said. The checks were then cashed with the assistance of Matilde Fabian-Pichardo, a bank teller in Stamford, who took part in the scheme, the release said.

The Internal Revenue Service lost some $185,000 and New York and North Carolina lost about $13,000 because of the scheme, the release said .Hector Medina, 32, kept a majority of the money, paying others including Peralta for their help, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

The scheme took place from October through December of 2010, the release said.

Peralta pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service in October, and was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, the release said. She and others will also have to pay $198,425.57 in restitution, the release said.

Medina was sentenced to 27 months in prison in early October, and Fabian-Pichardo has pleaded guilty but awaits sentencing, the release said.

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