Multi-Million Dollar Scheme Lands Two Women in Federal Prison

PROVIDENCE, RI — Two Central Falls women were sentenced to 3 years in federal prison today for their roles in a long-running scheme to use the stolen identities of more than 400 individuals on fraudulent tax returns resulting in the theft of more than $2.6 million in fraudulent tax refunds.

According to U.S. Atty. Peter Neronha's office, Erika Tomasino and Doris Morel, both 44, were convicted on Sept. 27 after a two-week trial. Both were sentenced to three years.

Tomasino was the bookkeeper and secretary of Juan Vasquez, 53, of Providence, a businessman and the mastermind behind the long-running scheme. She was convicted of one count of conspiracy, one count of theft of government property, three counts of mail fraud, three counts of money laundering and one count of aggravated identity theft. She was also ordered to pay $1,817,431 in restitution.

Morel was a full-time cashier at the former Dominican Supermarket in Pawtucket, the hub of the scheme. She also was sentenced to three years. She was convicted of one count of conspiracy, one count of theft of government property, four counts of money laundering and four counts of aggravated identity theft. Morel was ordered to pay $1,225,580 in restitution.

In November 2016, Chief Judge William E. Smith sentenced Vasquez to six years in federal prison to be followed by 3 years supervised release. He ran the scheme out of his business, the former Dominican Supermarket. He was ordered to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $2,682,042.88. Vasquez pleaded guilty on August 19, 2016, to one count of conspiracy and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Also in November 2016, co-defendant Belkis Vasquez, 50, of Central Falls, was sentenced to serve 3 years probation, the first 8 months in home detention with GPS electronic monitoring, and was ordered to perform 200 hours of community service. Belkis Vasquez was ordered to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $325,490. Belkis Vasquez pleaded guilty on August 17, 2016, to one count of conspiracy.

According to the government’s evidence, for nearly four years, beginning in January 2010, the defendants participated in a scheme in which they used stolen personal identifying information of more than 400 individuals, most of whom are residents of Puerto Rico, to file fraudulent tax returns. Fraudulent treasury checks were mailed to various locations in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York, and later deposited by the co-conspirators into 26 different bank accounts. The bank accounts were controlled by the co-conspirators or other individuals affiliated with the former Dominican Supermarket.

The government’s evidence showed that the defendants and their co-conspirators withdrew the proceeds of the checks, caused others to withdraw some of the proceeds, transferred the proceeds between accounts, and spent the funds on personal expenses. Additionally, more than $235,000 of fraudulently obtained funds were transferred to a bank in the Dominican Republic.

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