A Brockton woman has been charged with theft of government funds following an alleged attempt to deposit a United States Treasury tax refund check worth nearly $1 million. Federal authorities arrested Lana Ruel, 70, and she was released on conditions after her initial appearance in federal court in Boston.
According to charging documents, Ruel is accused of incorporating a company in Massachusetts using the same name as a Brooklyn-based healthcare company that was the intended recipient of the tax refund check. She then allegedly opened a bank account under the victim company’s name and attempted to deposit the Treasury check. The bank froze her account after the attempted deposit. Ruel reportedly contacted the bank, stating that she could “explain what the check was, where it came from, and what it’s for…”
Authorities further allege that over the past two years, Ruel created four additional companies in Massachusetts without clear legitimate business purposes. In connection with one of these companies, she is said to have opened accounts at about eight different banks, received wire transfers into some accounts, and then transferred or withdrew funds. All related accounts have since been closed by the banks.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the charges along with officials from the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation’s Boston Field Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Saltzman is prosecuting the case.
Authorities emphasize that “the details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.”