Daly City Resident Pleads Guilty In Tax Fraud Scheme
OAKLAND – Everardo Laurian pleaded guilty to theft of government money announced United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Batdorf.
Laurian, 26, of Daly City, pleaded guilty to theft of government money. The Honorable Jeffery S. White, United States District Judge, accepted the plea today.
According to his plea agreement, between March and April 2015, Laurian participated in a conspiracy to illegally obtain money from the United States. The conspiracy involved filing false federal income tax returns in order to obtain fraudulent federal income tax refunds and cashing stolen U.S. Treasury checks at Walmart stores throughout the United States. Laurian became a member of the conspiracy knowing that the objective was to steal money from the federal government.
In 2015, codefendants Gary Bostick, 39, and Ana Bostick, 37, both of Pittsburg, Calif., asked Laurian to participate in a scheme to cash stolen or fraudulently obtained U.S. Treasury Checks. In March and April 2015, Laurian aided the Bosticks, co-conspirator Hugh Robinson, 46, of San Pablo, Calif., and others to cash fraudulently obtained or stolen U.S. Treasury checks. Laurian’s role was to drive individuals to Walmart stores and cashed the stolen or fraudulently obtained U.S. Treasury checks. In addition, after the checks were cashed, Laurian delivered the proceeds to Gary Bostick and Ana Bostick. In sum, Laurian conspired with others to cash a total of $88,826.41 in stolen U.S. Treasury checks as part of this joint undertaking.
On November 5, 2015, a federal grand jury indicted Laurian and ten co-conspirators for various crimes in connection with the scheme. For his part in the scheme, Laurian was charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371; two counts of theft of public money, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641; and two counts of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A. He pleaded guilty to two counts of theft of public money.
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On October 31, 2017, a jury found Hugh Robinson guilty of conspiracy to commit theft of public money, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371; seven counts of theft of public money, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641; and seven counts of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A, in connection with the scheme. Judge White sentenced Robinson to 144 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy. Ana Bostick was charged with conspiracy to commit theft of public money, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371; two counts of theft of public money, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641; and two counts of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A. On June 15, 2017, she pleaded guilty to all charges. For his part in the scheme, Gary Bostick was charged with conspiracy to commit theft of public money, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371; four counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343; and four counts of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A. On June 15, 2017, he pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge and to the wire fraud charges.
Judge White scheduled Laurian’s sentencing for September 26, 2017. The maximum sentence for theft of public money is ten years in prison and a fine of $250,000. However, any sentence following conviction will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Gary Bostick’s sentencing is scheduled for September 19, 2017, and Ana Bostick’s sentencing is scheduled for November 14, 2017.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Newman and Jose A. Olivera and Trial Attorney Gregory Bernstein and Paralegal Jonathan Deville of the Tax Division are prosecuting this case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.
