⏱ 2 min read
Victor Vasquez, a 40-year-old business owner from Gardner, Massachusetts, has been charged with stealing approximately $988,000 in government funds through a Treasury check scam. The alleged crime occurred in June 2024, when Vasquez deposited a Treasury check that had been altered to bear his name as the payee. The check was originally issued to another taxpayer, but Vasquez changed the name and deposited it into a credit union account for his closed business, Victor Northeast Construction, LLC. After depositing the check, Vasquez transferred $8,000 to another bank account to pay outstanding loan balances.
According to the charging documents, when the credit union questioned Vasquez about the source of the funds, he falsely stated that the check was a tax refund for his business. However, his business had not been incorporated during the relevant tax year, and he had never filed a tax return on its behalf. This alleged scam is part of a larger investigation into the theft of U.S. Treasury tax refund checks in eastern and central Massachusetts, which has already led to charges against eight other defendants.
The charge of theft of government funds carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Vasquez was arrested and released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston. The case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
Vasquez’s arrest is the latest development in a ongoing investigation that has already uncovered approximately $8.8 million in stolen Treasury checks. The investigation highlights the need for vigilance in preventing and detecting Treasury check fraud, which can result in significant financial losses for the government and taxpayers.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Massachusetts
- Location: MA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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