Omaha jury convicts woman for filing false liens

Associated Press/August 5, 2014

Omaha, Nebraska -- A Nebraska woman who once belonged to a sovereign citizens group was convicted of filing and conspiring to file false liens against federal authorities involved in prosecuting two associates convicted of tax crimes, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

A federal jury found Donna Marie Kozak guilty Friday of conspiracy to file and filing false liens against two federal judges, Nebraska's U.S. attorney, an IRS special agent and others, the Justice Department said. She was also convicted of filing a false claim against the U.S. for $660,000 and obstructing the administration of IRS laws.

Prosecutors said Kozak once belonged to a group called the "Republic for the united States of America."

They said Kozak filed a false lien for $19 million in Boyd County against the federal judge who presided over the trials at which her associates were convicted of tax crimes in 2012. After a federal grand jury indicted her for filing that lien and federal tax crimes, she filed five $18 million false liens in Washington County against federal officials, prosecutors said.

According to the Justice Department, Kozak had a history of using fraudulent schemes to get around federal tax laws since the late 1990s. Officials said she placed her property in sham trusts, created fake charities, sent harassing messages to IRS employees and filed bogus documents with the IRS.

In 2008, the Justice Department said Kozak claimed an income tax refund of $660,000 based on fake income tax filings.

The Lincoln Journal Star reported Kozak could receive up to 28 years in prison at her Nov. 6 sentencing. She's in custody until then.

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