Macon Co. Woman Sentenced to Prison for Tax Fraud

Springfield…Judge Thomas E. Griffith of the Circuit Court of Macon County sentenced Debra D. Weger to a term of two years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after she pleaded guilty to three counts of forgery and five counts of filing fraudulent sales and use tax returns, all Class 3 Felonies.  As part of her plea, Weger was also ordered to pay $107,952 in restitution to the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR). 

Debra D. Weger was operating Weger License & Title Service in Decatur, IL.  The indictment alleged that Weger fraudulently filed Vehicle Sales Tax Returns, failed to file Vehicle Sales Tax Returns, failed to pay over taxes due to the State of Illinois, altered checks payable to IDOR, and deposited checks payable to IDOR into her personal bank accounts.  Through the investigation, it was established that Weger caused a minimum criminal financial harm to the State of Illinois of $107,952. 

“Tax fraud and forgery are serious crimes that cannot be tolerated,” said Revenue Director Connie Beard.  “I applaud the efforts of Revenue’s Criminal Investigation Division, as well as the Attorney General’s Office in obtaining this conviction.  My office will continue to work with the Attorney General to ensure that lawbreakers are held accountable and that full restitution is paid on behalf of taxpayers.”    

The case was prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office based on a referral from the Department of Revenue’s Criminal Investigation Division.