HOUSTON – A local woman has entered a guilty plea to 12 counts of mail and wire fraud and four counts of filing a false tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Gwendolyn M. Berry admitted that from September 2008 through Oct. 1, 2014, she took funds in excess of $1.7 million from a family for whom she provided bookkeeping services. Berry stole from the education accounts of the minor children and other family bank accounts and it to make payments for the benefit of herself and her family.
Berry has also admitted she filed a false federal tax return for the tax years 2011 through 2014. In each of these tax returns, Berry omitted reporting some of her income and falsely claimed a refund.
Sentencing is set for May 4, 2018, before U.S. District Judge Gray Miller. At that time, she faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each of the fraud counts as well as another three years for the tax convictions.
Berry was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
The U.S. Secret Service and IRS - Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Annis is prosecuting the case.
--DOJ Southern District of Texas