Oksana Strusa Pleads Guilty to Defrauding the Interstate TRS Fund
On June 1, 2011, Ms. Oksana Strusa, an employee of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Interpreting Services, Inc. (“DHIS”), a subcontractor of Viable Communications, Inc., pleaded guilty in connection with a scheme to defraud the Interstate TRS Fund by submitting fraudulent claims for reimbursement for bogus VRS calls. Ms. Strusa pleaded guilty to one count of Conspiracy to File a False Claim, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §371; one count of Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349; and two counts of Mail Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341 & 2. At sentencing, Ms. Strusa faces a maximum statutory penalty of 65 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Ms. Strusa’s codefendants have previously entered guilty pleas and are awaiting sentencing before Judge Joel A. Pisano, in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. With Ms. Strusa’s plea, all six defendants in the DHIS-related indictment will have been found guilty.