A federal grand jury has indicted four family members from Texas and Mississippi for allegedly orchestrating an $8.5 million tax fraud scheme by filing false returns in the names of fake trusts.
The indictment, unsealed Tuesday, names David Hunt of Arlington, Texas; his twin sons, Brandon Hunt and Baylon Hunt, also of Arlington; and their half-brother, Corey Burt of Mississippi.
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According to court documents, the scheme began in 2016 when the family allegedly filed fraudulent tax returns under the names of fictitious trusts, seeking massive refunds from the IRS. The indictment claims they fraudulently sought more than $8.5 million, with over $1 million actually paid out based on the false filings.
Brandon Hunt is also accused of filing a fraudulent tax return in his own name. He and Baylon Hunt allegedly submitted fabricated financial documents and altered money orders to bolster their claims. Prosecutors say the group used the illegal proceeds to purchase luxury items, real estate, and cryptocurrency, while transferring funds among themselves to cover their tracks.
All four men face charges of:
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Conspiracy to defraud the United States (up to 5 years in prison)
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Aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns (up to 3 years per count)
Additional penalties could include monetary fines, restitution, and supervised release.
The announcement came from Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy Larson of the Northern District of Texas. The IRS Criminal Investigation division is leading the investigation.
Trial Attorneys Melissa Siskind and Daniel Lipkowitz, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Weybrecht, are prosecuting the case.
Note: An indictment is only an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
