Oregon woman pleads guilty to tax fraud scheme

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Federal officials say an Oregon woman has pleaded guilty to running an income tax refund fraud scheme.

Officials with the Justice Department’s tax division say 41-year-old Danyelle Calcagno filed at least 224 false federal income tax returns that claimed more than $1.2 million in tax refunds.

Officials say Calcagno filed the fake tax returns using Internet access at Portland-area hotels to disguise the source of the filing.

They say she filed the returns using the names and social security numbers that were obtained through recruiters. Calcagno told the IRS to deposit the refunds into bank accounts or on to debit cards that she could access.

Calcagno pleaded guilty on Friday to one count each of wire fraud, identity theft and conspiracy to defraud the government.