WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 -- The U.S. Department of Justice's U.S. Attorney's office for XXXXXX (insert district) issued the following press release:
BOSTON - A Brockton woman was sentenced on Oct. 5,2026 in federal court in Boston for stealing a nearly $1 million United States Treasury tax refund check.
Lana Ruel, 71, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to two months in prison, to be followed by two months of supervised release. Ruel may also be ordered to pay restitution at a later date. In June 2026, Ruel pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds. In December 2025, Ruel was arrested and charged.
Ruel attempted to deposit a United States Treasury tax refund check issued to a healthcare company in Br...