PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — A Port St. Lucie woman is among seven people charged in an alleged tax refund fraud scheme that sought more than $57 million from the IRS, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
A superseding indictment unsealed Wednesday charges Sherita Chandler of Port St. Lucie, along with defendants from Idaho, Illinois, California and Georgia, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, making false claims and money laundering.
Federal prosecutors allege the group worked from 2023 through 2024 to prepare and submit false individual and trust tax returns, along with more than 100 fictitious financial instruments, to claim refunds from the IRS.
The defendants allegedly sought more than $57 million in refunds and received more than $8 million in taxpayer money, the Justice Department said.
Chandler; Andrea and Kent Shannon of Kuna, Idaho; and Monika Skinger of Chicago had previously been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, according to prosecutors. The Shannons also face additional allegations involving wire fraud, false claims and money laundering, including claims that they bought luxury vehicles with fraudulently obtained refunds.
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The investigation is being handled by IRS Criminal Investigation.
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