A Buchanan woman charged last winter with embezzling more than $1.9-million for her former employer has been sentenced to three years in federal prison on tax evasion charges stemming from that embezzlement case.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that 52 year old Lori Lynn Pawielski of Buchanan, was sentenced to three years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker, who also ordered Pawielski to serve three years of supervised release following her prison term and to pay $511,433 in restitution to the IRS and $1,962,611 in restitution to private party victims.
Pawielski’s sentencing was the result of her pleading guilty to one count of attempting to evade or defeat tax for calendar year 2015 by preparing and signing a false and fraudulent Form 1040 tax return. The charge alleged that the Form 1040 tax return falsely claimed that her taxable income was $149,160 when in fact it was $330,166. The charge also alleged that the tax due and owing for calendar year 2015 was $84,516, not $28,941 as reported on the tax return. She admitted those facts, and also was held responsible for additional tax due and owing for calendar years 2009-2014.
Pawielski’s tax evasion arose out of her embezzlement of more than $1.9 million from her former employer between 2009 and 2016 by writing 271 checks to herself without authorization. She further admitted that she concealed her embezzlement by altering the company’s accounting software to make it appear those checks were issued to suppliers. Pawielski admitted that she failed to report that additional income to the IRS on her 2009-2015 federal tax returns.
She was originally charged in early February and faced arraignment and a plea hearing on February 15th, leading to her further court dealings.
U.S. Attorney Birge said today, “Ms. Pawielski must pay a debt to society in terms of prison time and pay back her former employer what she stole and pay the government what she owes in taxes.” He adds, “The message should be clear here: Those who cheat on their taxes will be both brought to justice and made to pay what they owe. If you’re attempting to evade your taxes, we will work with the Internal Revenue Service to make sure you are held accountable and pay your fair share.”
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher O’Connor.
