It may not have been their intention, but Kristerpher Turner, Toriano Knox, Kenya Jones, and Joyce Johnson could forever be known for allegedly orchestrating a COVID-19 relief fraud scheme not only considered to be the largest ever identified, but also the only reported COVID-19 fraud case that includes attempted murder charges, since co-conspirators Knox and Jones allegedly attempted to kill Turner to prevent him from speaking to law enforcement about the scheme. Fortunately, Turner survived, although is now paralyzed. Unfortunately for his alleged co-conspirators, because Turner is still able to speak, it will surely make the court trial interesting.
From June 2020 through December 2024, Turner allegedly operated a tax fraud scheme where he and his co-conspirators would submit fraudulent forms for businesses, including bogus companies they allegedly created, using the Coronavirus Response Credits, a COVID-19 relief credit created for companies that did not pay any sick and family wage credits to any employees at any time. Turner would allegedly direct and manage recruiters, including defendants Knox and Jones, to recruit fraudulent clients, including romantic partners and family members. Allegedly these “clients” would provide their personal identifying information to be used to establish fake businesses and prepare fraudulent tax filings. Some “clients” would provide information about pre-existing businesses that were ineligible to receive Coronavirus Response Credits so that the co-conspirators could use that information to file fraudulent tax filings on behalf of those businesses.
Before the attempted murder, Turner and his alleged team of fraudsters submitted and caused the submission of fraudulent forms for at least 147 companies, seeking a total of approximately $247,956,938 in tax refunds to which they were not entitled. In reliance on the fraudulent forms and the false statements, the IRS issued Treasury checks in the total amount of at least approximately $93 million.
Excellent job by the United States Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration in this case.
Today’s Fraud of The Day is based on article “4 in Los Angeles area charged in alleged $93 million COVID-19 fraud scheme, FBI says” published by KCAL News on June 27, 2025.
Four people from the Los Angeles area have been federally charged for their alleged roles in what the FBI calls the “nation’s largest known” $93 million COVID-19 tax credit fraud scheme. On June 11, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against four individuals charging them with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud and conspiracy to submit false claims.
The FBI said two of the defendants named are also charged with attempting to kill a witness and “using a firearm in furtherance of that crime.”
