Indictment: 6 accused of filing 9,000 fraudulent tax returns seeking $177 million in refunds

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA/Gray News) — A tax preparation service used a variety of bogus deductions to file thousands of returns seeking $177 million in fraudulent refunds, according to a federal indictment unsealed Wednesday.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Mobile said the investigation is part of an ongoing operation led by the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Internal Revenue Service and the FBI.

Defendants named in the indictment

The lead defendant is Jennifer Beverly, 47, who owned JB Accounting Tax Service LLC on Broad Street. She is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.

The indictment also names one of her employees, former University of Alabama basketball player Kennedy Lawrence Stovall Winston, 42. Winston, who attended Blount High School, also faces an unrelated federal fraud charge related to stolen Treasury checks.

Four other employees of the tax preparation service face conspiracy and wire fraud charges:

• Jadasha Bowman, 28
• Solida Lucille Green, 36
• Paris Lovett, also known as Paris Johnson, 30
• Shermeka Benjamin, 38

Allegations in the indictment

The indictment alleges that, from about 2021 through 2024, the defendants filed more than 9,000 fraudulent returns.

Of the $177 million in claimed refunds, the IRS issued $81 million, according to the indictment.

The indictment details a variety of tax deductions and credits that prosecutors allege the defendants improperly claimed. Those include COVID-19 credits, fuel tax credits, credit repayments, estimated tax payments and education credits.

Statements from federal agencies

Maisha Horton, acting special agent in charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division, called the alleged abuse “staggering” in a prepared statement.

“Tax return preparers are entrusted with sensitive financial information and have a responsibility to uphold the integrity of our nation’s tax system, not exploit it for personal financial gain,” she said in the statement. “Those who seek to enrich themselves by manipulating tax credits and defrauding the American taxpayer should understand that IRS Criminal Investigation, along with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, is committed to uncovering these schemes, following the money, and holding those responsible accountable.”

Christopher Flowers, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Mobile Field Office, said in a statement that the charges demonstrated a strong partnership among federal law enforcement agencies.

“These allegations involve a serious breach of trust, and our agencies worked closely to identify the extent of the fraudulent activity and ensure accountability,” he said in the statement. “Rebuilding public trust is one of the FBI’s core priorities, and we will continue to pursue anyone who exploits our financial and tax systems for personal gain.”

Court information

A court date has not been set for the defendants. If convicted, each faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.