An Oregon woman, Notja Michelle Brower, 53, has been sentenced to a term of 78 months in federal prison for her involvement in bank fraud and tax evasion. Brower, who was also a bookkeeper and office manager for Victim Business 1 (VB1), embezzled over $250,000 from the company and failed to report this income to the IRS, avoiding over $50,000 in federal taxes.
According to information provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon, Brower began her scheme shortly after being hired in July 2018. Over $20,000 in expenditures, notably for travel and exotic car rentals, which having been made with a credit card fraudulently opened in an owner's name, spoiled the VB1’s financial health. Brower then covered up her tracks by channeling payments from VB1’s business account to settle these indulgent purchases.
The legal repercussion of her actions extended beyond prison time, whereupon Brower is also bound by a five-year supervised release. She has been ordered by the court to reimburse $310,106 in restitution to the victims she deceived.
An indictment consisting of twelve counts came down from a federal grand jury on April 4, 2024. It charged Brower with a series of financial crimes including bank fraud and tax evasion, "a federal grand jury in Medford returned a twelve-count indictment charging Brower with bank fraud, wire fraud, unauthorized use of an access device, aggravated identity theft, and tax evasion," as noted by the U.S. Attorney's Office. On March 10, 2025, she pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of tax evasion.
The prosecution resulted from joint efforts by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and the Medford Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Brassell heading the case.
