Fraud suspect banned from computers

RIVERHEAD, N.Y., April 9 (UPI) -- A New York judge has ordered a woman to stay away from computers while awaiting trial for allegedly stealing $90,000 in a tax fraud operation.

Suffolk County Court Judge James F. X. Doyle ruled Tuesday that Diana Aliffi would not be allowed to use a computer while being held on $1 million bail, Newsday reported.

"I wouldn't want her to have access to a computer in the meantime. This is something that I think is important to the society," Doyle said.

Prosecutor Michael Mirabella claims Aliffi illegally took $90,000 from her tax clients and tried to steal an additional $19 million from government agencies while running a tax preparation company in Riverhead, N.Y.

A number of alleged victims reported Aliffi to Riverhead authorities after receiving letters from the Internal Revenue Service, the newspaper said.

Aliffi is charged with attempted grand larceny, second-degree grand larceny, scheme to defraud, 10 counts of identity theft, 52 forgeries and 10 counts of offering a false instrument.