February 2024 Criminal Investigation press releases

Feb. 29, 2024

• Louisiana physician sentenced for tax evasion

• Korean national sentenced for “bust out” bank fraud scheme in Sacramento area and elsewhere

• Worcester tax preparer sentenced to prison for false tax returns scheme

• Florida man pleads guilty to kickback scheme to defraud Williams Sonoma

Feb. 28, 2024

• Jefferson County man pleads guilty to federal crimes related to $4.9 million investment fraud scheme
• Fraudulent tax return preparer sentenced to prison term
• Massachusetts businessman sentenced to prison for million-dollar payroll tax fraud scheme

Feb. 27, 2024

• New Jersey man sentenced for COVID-19 fraud
• India- and New Jersey-based jeweler charged with multimillion-dollar international trade fraud scheme and unlicensed money transmitting
• Leader of real estate investment firm admits role in 658 million dollar Ponzi scheme and multimillion-dollar tax evasion conspiracy
• Hackensack tax preparer admits tax evasion, assisting in preparation of 50 false tax returns, and filing false declarations on quarterly tax returns for business
• After jury is seated, tax preparer pleads guilty in 2.6 million dollar fraud

Feb. 26, 2024

• Canyon Lake tax preparer sentenced for submitting false tax returns
• Florida tax preparer sentenced for false return conspiracy

Feb. 23, 2024

• Alleged mastermind of $5 million unemployment fraud scheme extradited from Romania
• Mississippi tax preparers sentenced to prison in false tax return conspiracy
• Operation Fraud Street Mafia results announced: nine arrested for drug trafficking and committing more than $550 million in attempted tax fraud
• Armed carjacking added to a 55-count superseding indictment charging members of the violent KDY drug crew
• Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips gang member admits racketeering and firearms charges

Feb. 22, 2024

• Nelson County man sentenced to over 9 years in federal prison for bank fraud and money laundering
• Eleven defendants indicted for 220,000 dollar COVID fraud conspiracy
• West Virginia doctor charged with tax fraud, obstructing justice
• Three former local 98 employees sentenced for illegal use of union assets
• Holland woman sentenced to prison for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering
• Rochester man pleads guilty in connection with COVID-19 fraud, identify theft, and possession of child sexual abuse material
• Queens man indicted for stealing more than 1.1 million dollars in COVID-19 loan fraud scheme

Feb. 21, 2024

• Owner of Cuyahoga Falls tax prep business sentenced for filing a false tax return
• Middlesex County man sentenced to 33 months in prison for role in COVID-19 fraud schemes totaling over $2.1 million
• Cary businessman pleads guilty to evading more than $1 million in taxes
• Former North Dakota tax preparer pleads guilty to preparing false returns for clients
• Cincinnati woman pleads guilty to laundering more than $8 million for online romance scammers

Feb. 20, 2024

• Co-owner of media brokerage firm sentenced for filing false tax returns

Feb. 16, 2024

• Peoria man pleads guilty to conspiring to commit bank fraud and money laundering
• Denver jury convicts former corporate CFO and wife of wire fraud
• Professional money launderer sentenced to 40 months in prison for transmitting $42 million
• Former Illinois state senator, gubernatorial candidate Sam McCann pleads guilty to fraudulent use of campaign funds, money laundering, tax evasion
• Two individuals convicted for $11m COVID-19 relief fraud scheme

Feb. 15, 2024 

• Encino tax prep company owner pleads guilty to helping client file a false tax return and admits causing tax loss of more than $400,000
• Lexington lab agrees to $10.4 million in civil judgments to resolve false claims act allegations; owner and lab officer sentenced to prison
• New Braunfels business owner sentenced to federal prison for tax evasion
• Two sent to prison for stealing nearly $3m in IRS refunds
• Louisville man sentenced to over 5 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm and money laundering
• Bristol man sentenced to prison for fraud and tax offenses
• Five individuals sentenced to federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking and money laundering in the Fox Valley
• Husband and wife plead guilty to $5 million unemployment fraud scheme
• Former New York business owner sentenced to prison for tax fraud

Feb. 14, 2024

• Seventeen charged in scheme to smuggle fentanyl and other drugs hidden inside fire extinguishers across U.S.-Mexico border
• Former bookkeeper sentenced to federal prison for embezzlement and fraud
• Former owner of Seaford drug rehab center pleads guilty to false statements on tax return
• “Ghost” tax preparer is sentenced to prison
• “Logistics coordinator” sent to prison for drug trafficking
• Philipsburg man pleads guilty to methamphetamine charge
• Heath Street Gang members and associates charged in federal sweep
• Federal Law Enforcement seizes $70k vehicle to be applied to former CEO's $74 million restitution order
• Plymouth man pleads guilty to submitting multiple fraudulent claims for pandemic relief
• Mother and son tax preparers sentenced to prison for tax fraud

Feb. 13, 2024

• Five charged in Treasury check washing and PPP loan fraud schemes
• Owners and operators of illicit marijuana business sentenced to federal prison for violations of federal and state law
• Columbus man sentenced to prison for laundering romance fraud proceeds
• DeSoto County residents arrested for payroll protection fraud
• Ian Freeman ordered to pay more than $3.5 million in restitution to victims and to forfeit proceeds of his bitcoin money laundering scheme
• Chicago consultant convicted of federal tax offenses
• Los Angeles man sentenced to prison for dark web drug conspiracy and firearms crimes

Feb. 12, 2024

• Wheeling developer admits to wire and tax fraud
• Former chief of staff to Speaker of the Illinois House sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison for lying under oath to grand jury
• Suburban Chicago accountant guilty of evading $3.4 million in federal and state income taxes
• IRS crime-fighting boss announces retirement

Feb. 9, 2024

• California man sentenced to more than 17 years in federal prison for COVID jobless benefits scam and for stealing title to dozens of cars
• Former Palm Beach County resident sentenced to three years in prison for not filing tax returns and naturalization fraud
• RICO conspirators sentenced to prison for cyber intrusion, tax fraud
• New York man sentenced for failing to pay federal payroll taxes
• Ohio man pleads guilty to multiple federal charges, including a Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act violation, for threatening a reproductive health services clinic
• Former Wenatchee man pleads guilty to Covid-19 fraud involving more than $117,000 in pandemic relief funding
• Johnstown man sentenced to seven years in prison for cocaine and crack-cocaine violations
• Michigan man who orchestrated international computer fraud scheme and online drug distribution scheme pleads guilty
• UHD pioneers program pairing IRS Criminal Investigation mentors with students
• Testing laboratory co-owner admits $3.8 million in fraudulent billing
• Vancouver real estate developer sentenced to federal prison for fraudulently obtaining Covid-relief funds, laundering proceeds

Feb. 8, 2024

• Huron man charged with over 2.5 million dollars in COVID-19 relief fraud
• Former president of the Lerner Group pleads guilty to defrauding his clients
• Ten defendants arrested on federal indictments related to a multi-million dollar fraud scheme
• Utah man charged in 2.8 million dollar wire fraud scheme

Feb. 7, 2024

• Virginia man sentenced to 5 years probation and ordered to pay over 1.5 million dollars in restitution for defrauding the United States
• Federal grand jury indicts 19 individuals for roles in a fraudulent scheme to obtain COVID-19 relief funds
• Lead of 7 defendants in multistate narcotics, money laundering conspiracies case sentenced to 16 years in prison
• Fall River commercial fisherman pleads guilty to tax evasion
• Pharmacy owner and administrator admit roles in multimillion-dollar health care fraud and kickback scheme
• Gang member sentenced to 12 years in prison for racketeering charge
• Texas man charged with filing tax returns that falsely reported his cryptocurrency gains

Feb. 6, 2024

• Tax preparer sentenced for including false information on federal tax returns
• Federal jury convicts former Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby
• Milwaukee business owner convicted of tax and bankruptcy offenses
• Father and daughter convicted of financial fraud related to pandemic relief funds, public housing
• Three individuals sentenced for 3.5 million dollar COVID-19 relief fraud scheme

Feb. 5, 2024

• Texas man sentenced to 41 months in prison for tax evasion
• CEO of beverage company marketed for women indicted for alleged securities fraud that took in more than 13.5 million dollars from investors
• Former Overland Park business owner pleads guilty to 800,000 dollar COVID fraud
• Former Brooklyn tax preparer pleads guilty in false return scheme
• Federal charges announced against 10 additional defendants in Feeding Our Future Fraud scheme

Feb. 2, 2024

• Maryland tax preparer sentenced to more than two years in prison for filing false tax returns
• Salt Lake trucking group owners found guilty in a financial fraud conspiracy that cost FedEx ground $108m
• San Diego restaurant owner charged with tax fraud and COVID relief fraud
• Representative John Rogers charged with additional offenses in fraud case involving the Jefferson County Community Service Fund
• Georgia man sentenced to five years in federal prison for tax fraud and operation of bogus credit repair businesses
• Scottsdale man sentenced to 8 years in prison for investment fraud
• Three men charged with running hawala scheme responsible for illicitly moving more than $65 million between the United States and the Middle East

Feb. 1, 2024

• Federal tax team in Texas puts financial criminals in prison
• Former U.S. Border Patrol agent pleads guilty to attempting to distribute methamphetamine and receiving bribes
• Sedalia business owner pleads guilty to failing to pay employment taxes
• Union County man sentenced to five years in prison for operating multimillion-dollar unlicensed check cashing scheme
• Rocklin business owners plead guilty to conspiracy to evade over 1 million dollars in taxes
• Insurance agent sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for defrauding elderly investors and tax evasion
• Foreign national charged for international money laundering conspiracy and role in operation of unlicensed digital currency exchange BTC-e
• Former chairman of 1 Global sentenced to five years in prison for running 250 million dollar securities fraud scheme