A grand jury sitting in the Eastern District of Michigan returned an indictment yesterday charging a former healthcare consultant with wire fraud, mail fraud, corruptly endeavoring to obstruct the internal revenue laws, and tax evasion, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.

According to the indictment, from 2011 through August 2014, Sonja Emery falsely represented her professional status, educational background, and work experience to secure and maintain highly paid consulting positions in the health-care industry. Emery allegedly falsely represented to her employers that she was a registered nurse, had worked in health-care management positions, and had various degrees, including a bachelor of science in nursing, master’s degrees in health administration, and a doctor of philosophy degree. The indictment further alleges that, from 2011 to 2014, Emery earned six-figure salaries, failed to file timely tax returns and failed to pay the substantial income tax due and owing on her income.

If convicted, Emery faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each mail and wire fraud count, five years in prison for each tax evasion count, and three years in prison for corruptly endeavoring to obstruct the Internal Revenue Service. Emery also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman commended special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys Jeff McLellan and Jack Morgan of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.

Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.