Grimy Times has learned that a Pacifica bookkeeper is facing federal charges for allegedly orchestrating a scheme to defraud her employer and the Internal Revenue Service.
Krisinda Messer, 40, of Pacifica, California, was indicted by a federal grand jury on multiple counts of bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and filing false tax returns, announced United States Attorney Melinda Haag and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge José M. Martinez.
According to the indictment, from 2007 through 2011, Messer was employed as a bookkeeper by J.A.E., Inc., a San Francisco company. Messer did not have signatory authority over J.A.E., Inc.’s account with Bank of America, but she did have authority over a Wells Fargo Bank account held in the name of her family-owned company, American Backflow Company (ABC).
The indictment alleges that Messer executed a scheme to defraud Wells Fargo Bank by drafting J.A.E., Inc. checks payable to ABC, on which she forged her supervisor’s signature and then deposited the checks into the ABC bank account. Messer also allegedly used her supervisor’s identification to make several of these transactions.
The indictment further alleges that Messer filed false tax returns for the 2009, 2010, and 2011 tax years that did not report to the IRS the income she received from her embezzlement activities.
Messer is scheduled to make her initial appearance in federal court in San Francisco on May 28, 2015, at 9:30 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley in San Francisco.
Prosecutors are seeking a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1 million for each count of bank fraud. If convicted of aggravated identity theft, Messer faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison, consecutive to the underlying felony. For filing a false tax return, the maximum penalties are three years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count.
The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. Special Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Tolkoff and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Moore are prosecuting the case.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Mandatory facts: Defendant Respondent: Krisinda Messer, Crime: Bank fraud, identity theft, and filing false tax returns, City and state: San Francisco, California, Exact date: May 28, 2015, Sentence or outcome: Scheduled initial appearance in federal court, Dollar amounts: $1,000,000 (fine) and $250,000 (fine).
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: White Collar Crime|Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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