Former Tax Division Employee Pleads Guilty to Stealing $2,400 by Entering False Homestead Rebate Applications Into Database

TRENTON, NJ – December 3, 2008 – (RealEstateRama) – Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni announced that a former technical assistant for the New Jersey Division of Taxation pleaded guilty today to stealing $2,400 by using her access to the state’s computer tax records to submit false Homestead Rebate applications.

According to Director Gramiccioni, Natrina Guidry, 32, formerly of Willingboro but now of Baytown, Texas, pleaded guilty before Superior Court Judge Mitchel E. Ostrer in Mercer County to second-degree official misconduct, a charge contained in an Oct. 31, 2006 state grand jury indictment. Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend that Guidry be sentenced to three years in state prison.

Judge Ostrer scheduled Guidry’s sentencing for March 20. Deputy Attorney General Vincent J. Militello handled the guilty plea for the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau, which investigated the case with the Division of Taxation’s Office of Criminal Investigation.

Guidry admitted that between June and December 2001, she used her access to the state’s tax database to enter three fraudulent Homestead Rebate applications using false identifying information. Guidry admitted she used her home address for each application and received three rebate checks, each for $800, which she deposited into a personal credit union account.

Guidry’s duties as a technical assistant in the Information and Publication Unit of the Division of Taxation included handling correspondence and answering phone calls concerning property tax rebates. She was suspended after her conduct came to light in early 2004, and was terminated after a disciplinary hearing was held in June 2004.

Attorney General Milgram credited the Division of Taxation’s Office of Criminal Investigation for conducting an initial investigation and referring the matter to the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau. Investigator Carolyn Fox led the investigation for the Division of Taxation, Office of Criminal Investigation, Internal Security Unit.

The investigation was led for the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau by Detective Lee Bailey. Deputy Attorney General Perry Primavera presented the case to the state grand jury.

For Further Information:
Peter Aseltine
609-292-4791