Federal prosecutors on Wednesday unsealed an indictment accusing a Mobile tax preparation firm of filing more than 9,000 fraudulent returns between 2021 and 2024, seeking $177 million in refunds. The alleged scheme matters to Mobile residents because the IRS ultimately issued $81 million in illegitimate refunds, diverting taxpayer money that could have funded local services.
According to Fox 10, the lead defendant is Jennifer Beverly, 47, owner of JB Accounting Tax Service LLC on Broad Street. She faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. The indictment also names four other employees – Jadasha Bowman, 28; Solida Lucille Green, 36; Paris Lovett (also known as Paris Johnson), 30; and Shermeka Benjamin, 38 – who face the same charges.
Among the defendants is former University of Alabama basketball star Kennedy Lawrence Stovall Winston, 42, a Blount High School graduate. Winston is additionally charged with an unrelated federal fraud count involving stolen Treasury checks. Prosecutors allege the group misused a range of tax deductions and credits, including COVID‑19 credits, fuel tax credits, credit repayments, estimated tax payments and education credits.
Maisha Horton, acting special agent in charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division’s Atlanta Field Office, called the alleged abuse “staggering” in a prepared statement, emphasizing that tax preparers are entrusted with sensitive financial information. Christopher Flowers, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Mobile Field Office, said the case demonstrates a “strong partnership among federal law‑enforcement agencies” and underscored the FBI’s priority of rebuilding public trust.
At this time, no court date has been set for any of the defendants. If convicted, each faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The indictment signals continued vigilance by federal authorities to protect taxpayers and restore confidence in the tax system, a priority echoed by local officials who stress the importance of safeguarding community resources.
Sources: fox10tv.com
