A Nebraska woman faces up to three years in prison and a possible quarter-million dollar fine for her guilty plea to charges stemming from a Nigerian tax refund fraud scheme.

US Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced that Kathy Hansen, 36, of Ralston, pleaded guilty on Monday to misprision of a felony.

In 2014 Hansen opened bank accounts with financial institutions resulting in illegally obtained tax refunds, totaling approximately $11,557.00, being deposited into those bank accounts. The tax refunds were obtained as part of a tax refund fraud scheme being operated by individuals believed to be located outside the United States.

The funds deposited into the accounts were then sent by Hansen to individuals in Nigeria. The charges allege that Hansen, knowing that a crime was being committed, failed to notify law enforcement about it.

Sentencing has been set for May 1, 2017. The case was investigated by the Department of the Treasury, Criminal Investigations.