CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Carissa Joy Dunn-Pollard, 45, of Cheyenne was sentenced today to 21 months in prison for wire fraud and failure to file a tax return, according to a press release from the U.S Attorney’s Office District of Wyoming.
Dunn-Pollard will also be required to serve three years on supervised release following her prison term and must pay $220,481.57 in restitution to the Cheyenne Little Theatre, $113,451.58 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service and a $125 special assessment, the release states.
According to court documents, Dunn-Pollard worked as the part-time bookkeeper for Cheyenne Little Theater Players Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Cheyenne. From Sept. 20, 2020, to May 30, 2022, Dunn-Pollard devised and engaged in a scheme to obtain money by means of material false and fraudulent pretenses and representations.
Per the release, as a result of this scheme, Dunn-Pollard admitted to embezzling at least $220,481.57 from the theatre by causing ACH “payroll deposits” to be made into her bank account from the theatre’s bank account.
In addition to the wire fraud, as of Nov. 30, 2022, when the complaint in this case was filed, Dunn-Pollard was aware of her obligation to file tax returns with the IRS but failed to do so for tax years 2018–2021 as required by law. The amount of taxes she owed for the four-year period totaled $113,451.58.
In a statement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said that the sentence brings a measure of justice to the Cheyenne Little Theater and members of the community affected by Dunn-Pollard’s fraud. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also thanked the U.S. Secret Service, IRS Criminal Investigation Denver Field Office and Cheyenne Police Department for their roles in the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Dunn-Pollard, the release states.
“Ms. Dunn-Pollard used her position to defraud not only her employer, but the honest hardworking Americans who pay their tax obligations every year,” said Andy Tsui, Special Agent in Charge, IRS
Criminal Investigation Denver Field Office. “This is a great example of IRS-CI’s expertise in conducting federal tax investigations that also holds accountable those that commit crimes against community institutions like the Cheyenne Little Theater.”
