PITTSBURGH, PA – Michael Galanis, 34, of Jeannette, Pennsylvania, has been hit with a 12-month prison sentence for his role in an IRS impersonation fraud scheme that netted up to $250,000. U.S. Attorney Cindy K. Chung broke the news of the sentence, handed down by United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines.
Galanis, who was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release following his prison term, must pay $7,500 in restitution. According to court documents, Galanis was part of a conspiracy that targeted elderly individuals with fake IRS calls from India-based call centers between March 2016 and August 2017.
The scheme used U.S.-based phone numbers to make it seem like the calls were legitimate. When victims called back, they were directed to India, where scammers demanded immediate payment for supposed tax debts. Galanis’s role was in activating cell phones within the United States to support this fraudulent operation.
Assistant United States Attorney Karen Gal-Or led the prosecution on behalf of the U.S., while investigations were conducted by the United States Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Department of Homeland Security, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Those who suspect elder fraud are encouraged to report it via the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11. More information on the Department’s efforts to protect seniors can be found at its Elder Justice Initiative. Consumer Protection Branch details and enforcement efforts are available at its website, while elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or by calling 877-FTC-HELP.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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