Woman Admits Role in Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

Federal prosecutors in New Jersey say a New York City woman has pleaded guilty in one of the nation's largest stolen identity and tax refund fraud schemes. 
 
Elian Matlovsky pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court in Newark to a complaint charging her with conspiracy to defraud the United States and theft of government property.
 
Prosecutors say the 29-year-old Staten Island resident admitted her role in a conspiracy to steal more than $65 million in fraudulent tax refunds that resulted in losses to the U.S. of more than $12 million.
 
The U.S. attorney's office says the ring followed a common tactic in these fraud schemes, in which the stolen identities of Puerto Rican citizens are used to create and file false federal tax forms in order to get refund checks.