Co-defendent in bio-fuel scam pleads guilty
AUGUST 2, 2014 LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 2014, 1:21 AM
BY HUGH R. MORLEY
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
* Her co-defendant, the owner of two Bergen energy firms, still awaits trial in alleged tax fraud
Evelyn Katirina Pattison with Joseph Furando. She could face a five-year term.
A Ridgewood businesswoman has pleaded guilty to a charge that she took part in a $100 million biofuel fraud as a top executive of two Bergen County alternative-energy companies that authorities say carried out the scam.
Evelyn Katirina Pattison, who is also known as Katirina Tracy, admitted making false claims to the Internal Revenue Service and the Environmental Protection Agency in a scheme for which she and the companies’ co-owner, Joseph Furando, were indicted in September.
As Pattison made her guilty plea earlier this week, federal prosecutors in Indiana, where the case is being heard, asked the court to revoke Furando’s pretrial release because of his “pattern of violent threats and physical violence,” before and after his indictment — much of it, they said, directed at Pattison.
But in Indianapolis on Friday, U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker allowed Furando to remain free.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/business/guilty-plea-in-fuel-scam-1.1061233#sthash.hwDze1lM.dpuf
Somewhat off topic, but I need to ask this question regardless.
Ms. Pattison has revealed that she began a sexual relationship with Mr. Furando when she was 16 years old. Mr. Furando has not denied this.
So how come he hasn’t been arrested and prosecuted for having sex with a minor?
“pattern of violent threats and physical violence,” before and after his indictment — much of it, they said, directed at Patisson”.
If their relationship started at age 16 and he has a history of violence against her I think that her defense knows where to go.
16 is the age of consent in NJ
Hopefully she will see jail time a sexual relationship has nothing to do with her crime.
Another stellar Ridgewood resident….
Wait -how do you know that she gave consent? 16 is the age that a person can Give consent.
He is 20 years older. There are accusations of violence. Doesn’t sound like a normal courtship.
Gotta what his wife is thinking about all of this.