Latest news with #PandemicUnemploymentAssistance
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Athens tax preparer sentenced to 8 years for $3.5M fraud scheme
The Brief Jessica Crawford was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for filing over $3.5 million in fraudulent tax returns linked to a pandemic-era unemployment scheme. Crawford operated through her business, filing false Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims and receiving a portion of the benefits, with over $3 million in fraudulent claims identified by the IRS. Federal law enforcement emphasized the impact of Crawford's actions on taxpayers and highlighted the ongoing commitment to prosecuting such fraud cases. MACON, Ga. - A tax preparer from Athens has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for filing more than $3.5 million in fraudulent tax returns, many connected to a pandemic-era unemployment scheme in which she received a share of the illegal proceeds. What we know Jessica Crawford, 34, was sentenced on Thursday by U.S. District Judge Tilman E. "Tripp" Self III to 96 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. She pleaded guilty in November 2024 to one count of wire fraud and one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. Federal prisoners are not eligible for parole. The backstory According to court records, the FBI began investigating a multi-state fraud involving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claims when they discovered Crawford's connection through text messages exchanged with others involved in the scheme. Operating through her business, Crawford Tax Services in Athens, she filed PUA applications on behalf of clients who submitted false information or fabricated businesses. In return, she received a portion of the benefits. The case also involved an undercover IRS-Criminal Investigation agent who met with Crawford in April 2022. During the meeting, Crawford fabricated a landscaping business based on a casual mention by the agent that he mowed his aunt's lawn. Without any documentation, she filed a Schedule C loss of \$19,373 and submitted a tax return electronically that falsely claimed a refund of $12,359. The return included improper claims for the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and a Qualified Business Income deduction. A statistical review by the IRS of 1,261 returns filed by Crawford for tax years 2020 and 2021 found more than $3 million in fraudulent claims, including false credits for sick leave, family leave, and dependent care. What they're saying "Federal law enforcement uncovered a large-scale tax return scheme during the pandemic that was costing taxpayers while benefiting fraudsters," said Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker. "Alongside our law enforcement partners, federal prosecutors will continue to uphold the law and pursue justice in these cases." Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, said Crawford "lied and took advantage of funds designed to help those who were truly in need during the pandemic." "Jessica Crawford used her position as a tax preparer to defraud the U.S. government through a CARES Act program intended for those unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Lisa Fontanette, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation's Atlanta Field Office. "The sentencing Crawford received should serve notice to unscrupulous tax preparers." The Source The details in this article were provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Georgia.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Athens woman who filed more than $3.5M in false tax returns sentenced to prison
An Athens woman who admitted to filing more than $3.5 million in fraudulent tax returns has been sentenced to prison. Jessica Crawford, 34, was sentenced to serve eight years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. She pleaded guilty to wire fraud and assisting in preparing and presenting false income tax returns in November. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Prosecutors say Crawford, a tax preparer, was part of a multi-state COVID-19 unemployment benefit scheme and received a portion of the money. They say she filed for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits for people who created fake businesses or submitted false information. Investigators uncovered text messages between Crawford and those people. TRENDING STORIES: Robert Prevost, first pope from US in history of the Catholic Church, takes the name Leo XIV 'It's a hard pill to swallow': Law enforcement recruits dying during training Hall County teacher accused of having inappropriate relationship with middle schooler In 2022, an undercover agent went to Crawford's tax preparation business. They say she asked the agent if he did anything on the side and said if he did that expenses could be deducted. He told her that he mows his aunt's lawn sometimes. Without asking for income or expense amounts, they say Crawford created a landscaping business for the agent and filed for a loss of $19,373 and applied other credits. Ultimately, the tax return was issued a fraudulent federal income tax return of $12,359. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Yahoo
$4M in federal pandemic unemployment fraud, some in AZ, leads to conviction
A Michigan man has pleaded guilty in a federal case involving identity theft and the theft of millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds from unemployment agencies, including in Arizona. Terrance Calhoun Jr., 36, of Pontiac, admitted to charges of aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices, according to an April 23 news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. The DOJ described Calhoun's crimes as a "large-scale, multi-state Unemployment Insurance benefit fraud scheme" where he and coconspirators fraudulently obtained more than $4 million in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance money on debit cards. Calhoun's plea agreement detailed how over a six-month period, he used stolen personal identification information and filed hundreds of false unemployment claims with state unemployment agencies in Arizona, Michigan and Maryland, according to the DOJ. The debit cards were used for roughly $1.6 million in purchases and cash withdrawals, the DOJ added. A search warrant at key mailing addresses, including Calhoun's home, that were used in the fraud scheme, yielded multiple documents with personal information and several debit cards belonging to others, the DOJ said. Calhoun could be sentenced to decades in prison and sentencing is set for Aug. 27, the DOJ mentioned. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Terrance Calhoun Jr. pleads guilty in $4M COVID-19 fraud
CBS News
24-04-2025
- CBS News
Pontiac man pleads guilty to federal charges involving pandemic unemployment benefits fraud
A Michigan man has pleaded guilty to a role in a large-scale unemployment benefit insurance fraud scheme that involved more than $4 million in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance funds. The details were related in a press release from Julie A. Beck, acting U.S. District Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, supported by the U.S. Department of Labor, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service and other agencies. This was not the only fraud investigation involving claims filed into the PUA federal program, which expanded and extended unemployment benefits to people whose ability to work was disrupted during 2020. A similar one handled by the Eastern District Attorney's office looked into fraud involving those who were out of work in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Maryland. And another scheme involved fraudulent claims made in 20 states. "Taxpayer money diverted into the pockets of criminals means less money going to Michiganders who actually need help getting through difficult financial times and who follow the rules when seeking assistance," Beck said in her statement. In the latest report, Terrance Calhoun Jr., 36, of Pontiac, Michigan, pleaded guilty to committing aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and to possessing 15 or more unauthorized access devices, all in relation to acts of unemployment insurance fraud, the press release said. According to the plea agreement, Calhoun and others used stolen personal identification to file hundreds of false unemployment claims over a six-month time frame in Michigan, Arizona and Maryland. The claims were made in the names of other people, without their knowledge or consent, and resulted in debit cards loaded with over $4 million in unemployment insurance funds mailed to addresses where the conspirators could claim them. About $1.6 million in purchases and cash withdrawals were made from those accounts. Calhoun faces a possible federal sentence of up to 20 years in prison for each of the wire fraud counts, up to 10 years in prison for possessing 15 or more unauthorized access devices, and a mandatory consecutive 2-year sentence for the aggravated identity theft charge. Sentencing is set for Aug. 27.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
ODJFS employee wrongly released $565K in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits, inspector general says
[Watch in the player above: How to tell if a company is planning layoffs] COLUMBUS, Ohio (WJW) — An Ohio Inspector General investigation has revealed a temporary worker for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services improperly released more than $565,000 in pandemic-era relief funds in 2021, some of which went to her relatives and acquaintances. The case has been referred to a county prosecutor and the state auditor. Manhunt suspended for James Douglas Meadows, suspect in Lorain County police officer assault who is still at-large The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program was created by Congress in 2020 to address rising unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After the program expanded, ODJFS received 'an unprecedented number' of new unemployment claims, according to a Thursday news release from the IG's office. The agency hired several new intermittent and temporarily contracted workers to handle the influx of claims. The agency disbursed about $7.6 billion in pandemic unemployment benefits in the 2021 fiscal year. Millions of those dollars were later determined to be fraudulent, according to the release. Car stolen with toddler in it: Suspect enters plea ODJFS in August 2021 referred a claim of wrongdoing by one of those intermittent workers to the inspector general's office. Investigators learned the woman previously worked for a private organization as a customer service representative processing PUA claims. In both jobs, she acted outside her authority by releasing a total of $565,949 over 28 PUA claims, according to the release. Investigators found the woman improperly searched for PUA claimants and removed fraud and eligibility issues and fact-finding information from their claims, allowing them to move ahead. Five of the claims were for her relatives and acquaintances, according to the release. Read the full investigation on the Inspector General's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
