Former Darien Resident Sentenced in $800K Veterans Scam

DARIEN, CT - Cynthia Tanner was sentenced today to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for embezzling $800,000 from the Darien-based National Veterans Service Fund (NVSF), announced United States Attorney Deirdre M. Daly.

Tanner, a 54-year-old former Darien resident, pleaded guilty in December last year to one count of wire fraud and one count of tax evasion. The NVSF's mission was to provide limited medical and other assistance to veterans of the Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars.

"From approximately January 2009 through June 2014, Tanner used nearly $800,000 in NVSF funds to pay various personal expenses for her and her family members," wrote Daly in a statement. "She also altered records to conceal her scheme and by falsely claiming that the stolen monies were being paid to veterans in need."

In addition to her prison sentence, Tanner was ordered to pay "full restitution to the NVSF," and more than $500,000 in back taxes, interest and penalties.

She is currently free on bond and is ordered to report to prison on August 30, 2016.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division and Darien Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.

Photo: Cynthia Tanner. Photo credit: Darien Police Department