A Roanoke woman has pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal IRS tax refunds, U.S. Attorney Thomas T. Cullen announced. Michelle Coppola, 59, a resident of Roanoke, Va., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to knowingly and willfully commit the offense of theft of public money.
Coppola admitted to conspiring with Osazuwa Peter Okunoghae, and others, from August 2012 through April 2014 in the Western District of Virginia and Eastern District of Texas to steal IRS tax refunds that were not their own. According to court documents, Coppola knew the IRS tax refunds she was receiving were not her own and that it was therefore illegal for her to receive them.
Throughout the course of the scheme, Coppola received approximately $53,470 in fraudulent IRS tax refunds to which she was not entitled. The investigation of the case was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service. The prosecution of Coppola and her co-conspirators is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Charlene R. Day for the Western District of Virginia and Assistant United States Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld for the Eastern District of Texas.
Coppola will be sentenced on November 13, 2020. The guilty plea is a result of a thorough investigation and prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s office. The case highlights the importance of protecting public money and the consequences of conspiring to steal from the government.
The conspiracy involved obtaining federal income tax refunds from the IRS to which the defendants were not entitled. The scheme was carried out over a period of two years, resulting in significant financial losses to the government. The guilty plea by Coppola is a significant step towards holding those responsible accountable for their actions.
The U.S. Attorney’s office is committed to protecting the public’s trust and ensuring that those who conspire to steal from the government are brought to justice. The case against Coppola and her co-conspirators is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the U.S. Attorney’s office and the Internal Revenue Service in combating financial crimes.
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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