Essex County Woman Pleads Guilty In $1M Refund Check Scheme

An Essex County woman has admitted that she conspired to obtain more than $1 million through fraudulently generated refund checks issued by the U.S. Treasury, authorities stated.

On Friday, Marie Poitevien, 53, of Orange, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson in Trenton federal court to conspiring to steal government funds.

According to court documents, from October 2009 through June 2013, Poitevien participated in a scheme by which her conspirators made fraudulent tax refund applications and had the U.S. Treasury send the refund checks to Poitevien’s residence.

Poitevien then negotiated the checks by depositing them into her personal bank account and withdrawing the funds.

Poitevien admitted cashing 298 tax refund checks, made payable to 139 different victims and totaling $1,101,689.

The count of conspiracy to steal government funds to which Poitevien pleaded guilty is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the pecuniary gain or loss from the offense.

Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 17.