Evergreen Reporter

A federal grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee has returned a 53-count indictment against two women from North Mississippi, alleging multiple schemes to defraud the government of COVID-19 relief funds. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the charges.

Renata Walton, 44, and Nicole Jones, also known as Nicole Dickerson, 36, both residents of Olive Branch, Mississippi, are accused of falsifying information on personal and business tax returns submitted to the IRS from 2020 through 2024. Walton owns R&B Tax Express in Moscow, Tennessee, where she and Jones prepared tax returns. The indictment alleges that they filed for COVID-19 related tax credits such as the Employee Retention Credit and the Sick and Family Leave Credit on behalf of clients who were not eligible. Once processed by the IRS, these fraudulent returns resulted in six-figure refunds for their clients. Subsequently, Walton and Jones reportedly received large fees from these clients which they laundered through local banks. Additionally, it is alleged that for the tax period in 2022, both women failed to file their own tax returns.

Walton faces separate charges for submitting fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans to the Small Business Administration.

The total amount involved in these fraudulent claims is over $65 million.

The indictment includes one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 30 counts of wire fraud, 12 counts of money laundering, seven counts of preparing false tax returns, two counts of failing to file taxes, and one count of obstruction of justice.

If convicted on these charges, Walton and Jones could face up to 20 years for each count related to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud; up to 10 years for each money laundering count; up to three years for each false tax return preparation count; and up to one year for each failure-to-file charge. Walton also faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years for obstruction of justice. Both women have been released on a $100,000 bond.

The case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation division. Assistant United States Attorney William Carey Bateman III is prosecuting.

It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

For further details or inquiries about this case or other updates from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Western District Tennessee can be followed on Facebook or X at @WDTNNews.