Ex-Public Social Services Employee Pleads Guilty to Using Stolen Identities in Tax Scheme

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A former state Department of Public Social Services employee pleaded guilty on Monday in Los Angeles to using stolen identities to file phony tax returns that each claimed thousands of dollars in tax refunds.

Veronica Niko, 36, of Lancaster, entered her plea to a federal identity theft charge before U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer, who set sentencing for June 10, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Niko, who formerly worked as a receptionist in the Lancaster office of DPSS, stole the names and social security numbers of 64 people from the office computer system, she admitted in a plea agreement filed in federal court.

The stolen identities were used by Niko's four co-conspirators to file phony returns, prosecutors said.

The fraudulent returns claimed the First Time Homebuyer Credit and/or Earned Income Credit, earning defendants as much as $8,000 per return, even though the people whose identities were used did not authorize or know about the filings, according to the IRS.

Niko's husband, co-defendant Thomas ``T-Mac'' Marshall, 37, previously admitted his role in the scheme and is scheduled to be sentenced March 18, according to the IRS.

Mao Niko, 40, of Lynwood, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced in April.

The remaining two defendants, Michael Williams, 42, of Palmdale, and Mike Niko, 34, of Los Angeles, are set to face trial in April on conspiracy charges.

The relationship between the three Nikos was not immediately clear.

From City News Service

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