⏱ 2 min read
A 35-year-old New Jersey woman, Palwasha Shir, formerly of Westbrook, Maine, pleaded guilty to presenting a counterfeit government check to her credit union in Maine. In July and August 2024, Shir deposited two fake Treasury checks made payable to her business, the Selfie Room LLC, totaling over $484,000. The counterfeit checks had the same serial numbers and amounts as genuine tax refund checks issued by the IRS to other entities. Shir falsely claimed she received the checks from the IRS when questioned by the credit union.
Shir faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Her sentence will be determined after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. The IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case, which is part of the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat fraud against the American people.
The Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division in April, which is focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud. This case supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Shir’s guilty plea is a result of the investigation and prosecution of her crimes, which were committed in Maine. The case highlights the importance of verifying the authenticity of government checks and the consequences of attempting to deposit counterfeit checks.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Maine
- Location: ME
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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