ANCHORAGE WOMAN SENTENCED IN FEDERAL COURT
FOR THEFT FROM EMPLOYERS AND BANK FRAUD

Anchorage, Alaska – United States Attorney Nelson P. Cohen announced today, August 23, 2007, that Tequisha M. Johnson, a resident of Anchorage, Alaska, was sentenced in federal court in Anchorage to 37 months in prison for her conviction on one count of forgery, one count of computer fraud and one count of bank fraud. Additionally, Johnson is ordered to pay $160,846.68 in restitution and serve five years of supervised release upon her release from prison.

United States District Court Judge Ralph R. Beistline imposed the sentence on Johnson, age 31.

According to information presented to the court by Assistant United States Attorney Tom Bradley, Johnson admitted committing forgery to steal from the Salvation Army; using computer fraud to steal from Easter Seals; and committing bank fraud by lying to Wells Fargo Bank in an attempt to obtain a home mortgage. She was an employee of the Salvation Army and Easter Seals when she stole from them.

In imposing sentence, Judge Beistline noted that the sentence included an additional ten months because Johnson committed these crimes while released on bail.

Mr. Cohen commended the Anchorage Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigations for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Johnson.