LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former Los Angeles County worker has pleaded guilty to committing a $357,000 identity theft tax fraud.
The Internal Revenue Service says 36-year-old Veronica Niko of Lancaster entered the plea Monday in federal court to an identity theft violation. She faces up to 15 years in prison.
Authorities say Niko stole names and Social Security numbers of 64 people while working a receptionist in the Lancaster office of the county Department of Public Social Services. The information was later used to submit phony tax refunds claims to the IRS.
Four other people were charged in the case.
Two of them, including Niko's husband, await sentencing after pleading guilty to conspiracy. Two others have pending trials.
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