A former Chevron employee worked with her mother to defraud Chevron out of $525,000, the Internal Revenue Service announced on Friday.
Trisha Roche, formerly of Dublin, and her mother Barbara Daniels Roche pled guilty in federal court in Oakland Wednesday to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and tax evasion, according to court documents.
In pleading guilty, the two admit they devised and executed a scheme to defraud the San Ramon-based company by submitting fraudulent invoices, the IRS said in a press release.
Trisha, 34, was a sponsorship coordinator for Chevron, whose duties included processing invoices for third party vendors.
In April 2004, Trisha began approving invoices to her mother, though she wasn't working for Chevron. Over the next three years, Trisha approved more than 40 invoices totalling approximately $525,000 to her mother. The two then shared the proceeds, the IRS said.
Trisha admitted she intentionally didn't declare the funds received in the scheme on her tax returns.
The two were both indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, 12 counts of mail fraud and one count of tax evasion. Trisha pled guilt to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and one count of tax evasion.
Barbara pled guilty to one count of tax evasion.
For each count of mail fraud, the maximum penalty is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, plus restitution. For tax evasion, the maximum penalty is five years in prison and a $100,000 fine, plus restitution. Though a final sentence following a conviction must consider U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
