Milwaukee County woman pleads guilty to theft, business identity theft, filing false income tax returns

Stephanie Lacher—formerly Stephanie Roeglin—pled guilty in Milwaukee County Circuit Court earlier this year to five felony counts of filing fraudulent Wisconsin income tax returns, one felony count of theft in a business setting and one felony count of business identity theft.

According to the criminal complaint, Lacher was employed as director of payroll for a home health care company in Glendale, Wisconsin. In this position, Lacher created a fake employee using her ex-husband’s Social Security number and her employer’s IRS employer identification number.

Lacher had the paycheck for this fake employee directly deposited in her personal bank account. She also stole from her employer by paying herself additional money as part of her regular paycheck.

Lacher’s schemes began in 2013 and continued until 2017 when her ex-spouse discovered he was assessed taxes for a job at the home health care company that employed Lacher—a place her ex-spouse never worked.

From 2013 to 2017, Lacher embezzled $476,540 from her employer. Because she did not pay state income taxes on the income paid to the fake employee, she owes back taxes, interest and penalties to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Joseph R. Wall sentenced Lacher on April 15, 2021, to two years in prison followed by eight years extended supervision. Lacher’s prison time for the filing fraudulent income tax return charges will be served concurrently with the theft in a business setting and business identity theft charges.

Charges in this case resulted from an investigation by DOR’s Office of Criminal Investigation Fraud Unit. Prosecution was handled by state Assistant Attorney General Christopher Liegel who assisted the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.

The DOR Office of Criminal Investigation Fraud Unit investigates individuals and businesses suspected of committing tax crimes and seeks criminal prosecution for crimes committed. To report tax fraud, go to the DOR website at www.revenue.gov and click the “Report tax fraud” link under Quick Links.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.