Six Accused in $177 Million Tax Fraud
A Mobile, Alabama, accounting firm is charged with filing over 9,000 bogus returns between 2021 and 2024.
By Carlos Rousseau ·
Six individuals face federal fraud charges after allegedly using a Mobile, Alabama, tax service to claim $177 million in improper refunds. A federal indictment unsealed Wednesday details how the group filed more than 9,000 fraudulent returns between 2021 and 2024. The Internal Revenue Service issued $81 million of the claimed money, according to court documents.
Jennifer Beverly, 47, is the lead defendant. She owned JB Accounting Tax Service LLC on Broad Street and is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. The indictment names five other employees of the firm: Jadasha Bowman, 28; Solida Lucille Green, 36; Paris Lovett, 30; and Shermeka Benjamin, 38. All four face conspiracy and wire fraud charges.
Kennedy Lawrence Stovall Winston, 42, is the sixth defendant. He is a former University of Alabama basketball player who attended Blount High School. In addition to the tax fraud charges, he faces a separate federal fraud charge related to stolen Treasury checks.
Prosecutors allege the defendants used several types of deductions to inflate refund amounts. The claimed credits included pandemic relief funds, fuel tax credits, credit repayments, estimated tax payments, and education credits. The case is part of a joint investigation by the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the IRS, and the FBI.
Maisha Horton, acting special agent in charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Atlanta, described the alleged abuse as staggering. She said tax preparers have a responsibility to uphold the integrity of the tax system. She added that the agencies are committed to following the money and holding responsible parties accountable.
Christopher Flowers, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Mobile Field Office, noted the strong partnership among the agencies. He stated that the allegations involve a serious breach of trust. Flowers said the FBI will continue to pursue anyone who exploits financial and tax systems for personal gain.
A court date has not been set for the defendants. If convicted, each person faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
