New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Thomas H. Mattox today announced that a Gloversville, NY woman has been sentenced to three to six years in state prison for tax fraud.

Crystal Sweet, 38, of 462 Nine Mile Tree Road, appeared before the Hon. Richard Giardino in Fulton County Court.  In addition to her prison term, Judge Giardino ordered Sweet to pay $23,918 in restitution to the State.

In August, Sweet pled guilty to two counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, class D felonies, avoiding indictment by a grand jury on a total of 20 felony charges she faced.  Sweet filed numerous false and fraudulent personal income tax returns using the names and social security numbers of several Gloversville residents without their knowledge or consent.  She stole the $23,918 in personal income tax refunds for the 2009-2012 tax years.

Sweet’s fraud scheme was uncovered by the Tax Department’s Criminal Investigations Division and prosecuted by the office of Fulton County District Attorney, Louise Sira.

“This sentencing presents another opportunity to remind all taxpayers to be vigilant when it comes to guarding private information, including social security numbers, which clearly can be used for illegal purposes if they fall into the wrong hands,” Commissioner Mattox said.  “I commend District Attorney Sira and her team for prosecuting this case.”