United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

GREENWICH WOMAN SENTENCED FOR MAKING A FALSE STATEMENT ON ESTATE TAX RETURN

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ROSEMARIE D. BRIA, age 46, currently of New York, New York, and formerly of Greenwich, Connecticut, was sentenced todayin Hartford federal court for subscribing a false estate tax return. Chief United States District Judge Robert N. Chatigny sentenced BRIA to five years of probation, the first six months of which is to be served in home confinement with electronic monitoring. Judge Chatigny further ordered BRIA to perform 300 hours of community service and to pay a fine in the amount of $3000.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor explained that on April 27, 2004, BRIA waived indictment and entered a plea of guilty to a one-count Information charging her with filing a false estate tax return. More particularly, the information charges that following her mother's death, BRIA intentionally omitted estate assets from the estate tax return resulting in a tax loss to the Government of over $137,000. In addition to the criminal penalty imposed today, BRIA has also paid substantial sums to the Internal Revenue Service in penalties and interest.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor noted that BRIA is extremely well-educated having attended dental school, law school, four years of medical school, and has obtained a masters degree in physiology and a masters degree in nutrition. "Under these circumstances, and with the benefit of such extraordinary education, it is unconscionable that there was an effort to hide assets," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated. "Under our tax system, it is every citizen's obligation to honestly report and pay taxes. Those who attempt to hide assets and cheat on their taxes, cheat their fellow citizens, as well. Such conduct will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted."

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James I. Glasser.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov