COEUR D’ALENE - Jamie Gillette, 53, of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today. Pursuant to a written plea agreement filed with the Court, Gillette waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a two-count criminal information filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
According to court records, from in or about 2011 through in or about 2015, Gillette devised a scheme to defraud, and to misappropriate without authority, money and property belonging to her employer, Bendable Bright Light, Inc. (“BBL"). Specifically, Gillette had access to BBL’s business bank account at Mountain West Bank, both as signor on the account and through the online payment portal. Using this access, Gillette issued checks from BBL’s account to her personal bank account at Navy Federal Credit Union, and made online payments from BBL’s account for personal expenses associated with her accounts, without the knowledge or authorization of BBL. On this occasion, and on multiple other occasions, Gillette acted with the intent to cheat or deceive BBL by misappropriating for her use money that belonged to BBL. The total amount of money that Gillette misappropriated will be determined at her sentencing hearing.
According to court records, on or about April 7, 2014, Gillette electronically signed and filed a Form 1040 federal income tax return for the calendar year 2013 that she knew contained false information as to a material matter. Specifically, on Line 22 “Total Income," she reported that her taxable income for the calendar year 2013 was $8,003, when she knew that her taxable income was much greater.
According to court records, on Aug. 30, 2017, law enforcement agents interviewed Gillette. She stated that she was a paid employee of BBL and earned approximately $65,000 per year. Gillette admitted that she did not pay taxes on all the income she received from BBL in 2011 through 2015.
For the wire fraud count, Gillette faces a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a $250,000 fine, and not more than 3 years of supervised release.
For the false tax return count, Gillette faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 5 years, a $100,000 fine, and not more than 3 years of supervised release.
Sentencing for Gillette is set for Jan. 15, 2020, before Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye at the federal courthouse in Coeur D’Alene.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
