WORCESTER, MA – Anthony Prizio, 49, of Blackstone, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced today for a brazen scheme to steal over $430,000 from his former employer. Prizio, formerly a manager at a national second-hand retail chain’s Worcester location, manipulated employee timekeeping and hijacked payroll cards, lining his own pockets at the expense of honest workers.
U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman handed down a three-year prison sentence, followed by three years of supervised release. The judge also ordered Prizio to cough up $431,399 in restitution to the defrauded company and a hefty $86,190 to the Internal Revenue Service. Prizio pleaded guilty in February 2024 to six counts of wire fraud, one count of tax evasion, and one count of unauthorized use of another’s identity – a clear admission of guilt in a calculated and lengthy criminal enterprise.
Between January 2019 and July 2021, Prizio exploited his managerial position. He wasn’t just overseeing operations; he was systematically looting the company. He had full access to the store’s timekeeping system, HR portal, and crucially, un-activated payroll paycards. Prizio abused this access, entering false hours for employees – even those who’d long since left the company – and diverting the wages to himself. The scheme wasn’t limited to phantom employees; he also fraudulently issued payroll debit cards in the names of others, effectively stealing their potential earnings.
But Prizio didn’t stop at simply pocketing the stolen wages. He attempted to cover his tracks, manipulating store productivity reports to make it *appear* as though the Worcester location was performing well. He even entered false paid sick and bereavement leave for employees, creating fictitious hours to further mask the stolen funds without impacting the store’s perceived efficiency. This wasn’t a crime of opportunity; it was a meticulously planned and executed fraud, designed to maximize profit and minimize suspicion.
And as if the wage theft and identity theft weren’t enough, Prizio then had the gall to *not* report any of this ill-gotten income on his taxes. The IRS, however, wasn’t fooled. The investigation revealed the full scope of Prizio’s fraudulent activity, leading to the tax evasion charge and the substantial restitution order. This case underscores the fact that tax evasion is not a victimless crime – it robs the public of essential funding for vital services.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy, alongside Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division, and Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Boston, announced the sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office skillfully prosecuted the case, bringing Prizio’s scheme to light and securing a just outcome. This sentencing sends a clear message: exploiting employees and defrauding the system will not be tolerated.
Related Federal Cases
- Blackstone Manager Nabbed in $517K Wage Theft · Massachusetts
- Baez Gets 25 Months for ID Theft & Social Security Fraud · Massachusetts
- Pereyra Diaz Gets Year for Identity Theft & Healthcare Fraud · Massachusetts
- Rhode Island Man Gets 3 Years for Pandemic Theft · Massachusetts
- Bacon Gets 6 Years for Mortgage Fraud Scheme · Massachusetts
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
