A Fayetteville woman has entered a guilty plea in federal court to bank fraud relating to false tax refund claims filed with the Internal Revenue Service, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Linda Lindo, 55, pled guilty to participating in a scheme that resulted in more than $480,000 in fraudulent income tax return checks being deposited at Wachovia Bank. Lindo knew that the 86 checks were obtained by filing false claims with the IRS, prosecutors said.
Lindo obtained the checks from Cynthia Annette Elliott, 44, of College Park, who also has been charged with participating in the scheme, and another woman who is now deceased, prosecutors said.
Elliott is also accused of diverting economic stimulus checks along with the income tax refund checks, prosecutors said.
Lindo is expected to be sentenced June 16, and Elliott is awaiting trial on her charges. Elliott is in federal custody awaiting trial.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell Phillips is prosecuting the cases.
