Two tax preparers have been charged with defrauding the federal government of $65 million in Covid relief funds, according to federal prosecutors in Tennessee.
Renata Walton, 44, and Nicole Jones, 36, were recently indicted on over 50 counts, including wire fraud, money laundering, preparing false tax returns and obstruction of justice, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Memphis said this week in a news release.
Walton was charged separately with submitting false paycheck protection and disaster loan applications to the Small Business Administration, according to the office.
Both women pleaded not guilty Monday and were released on $100,000 bond. No attorneys for them were named on court documents.