Two Tennessee tax preparers charged with stealing $65 million in Covid relief
Federal prosecutors in Tennessee have charged two tax preparers with defrauding the federal government of $65 million in Covid relief monies.
The Memphis U.S. Attorney's office announced this week that Renata Walton, 44, and Nicole Jones, 36, were indicted on more than 50 counts, including wire fraud, money laundering, filing false tax returns, and obstruction of justice.
The office said Walton was charged separately with filing fraudulent disaster loan and paycheck protection applications to the Small Business Administration.
After entering not guilty pleas on Monday, the two women were freed on a $100,000 bond. Court filings did not list any lawyers for them.
In Moscow, Tennessee, Walton owns and runs R&B Tax Express. It has been alleged that she and Jones "falsified numbers provided...