Erin Hossler, Tax Evasion, Pennsylvania 2020

A former Cressona Borough treasurer has been accused of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from the borough's coffers.

Erin Hossler, 50, of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, was indicted on June 17, 2020, by a federal grand jury on three counts of tax evasion for 2015, 2016, and 2017 and 12 counts of failure to account for and pay over employment tax.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that Hossler took hundreds of thousands of dollars between 2015 and 2018 from the Borough of Cressona, where she used to work as the Secretary/Treasurer.

Hossler allegedly issued numerous checks to herself, forged signatures on checks, and used online banking for the borough's bank accounts to pay her personal bills. The indictment further alleges that Hossler concealed her activities by altering federal records, withholding payment of federal employment taxes for Cressona Borough employees, and altering an audit from an independent accounting firm to make it appear that the firm approved of the borough's finances.

The case was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police and the IRS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Consiglio is prosecuting the case.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdpa/pr/former-cressona-borough-treasurer-indicted-tax-evasion