Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictments in Significant Tax Fraud Cases

Memphis, TN - A federal grand jury has returned indictments in two significant tax fraud cases. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the indictments today:

Mother and Son Tax Preparers Indicted for Conspiracy to Defraud the U.S. Government of Over $1.4 Million

In the first indictment, two Memphis income tax preparers have been charged with multiple criminal violations that resulted in a total tax loss to the United States of approximately $1,438,000.00.

According to the indictment, Yoshi Dawn Matthews and Ricky Darnell Matthews were charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States in connection with filing federal income tax returns that contained materially false statements. A violation of the federal conspiracy statute is punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of up to $250,000.00 or both, and a term of supervised release of up to three years.

As alleged in the indictment, Yoshi Dawn Matthews prepared and filed, or caused to be prepared and filed, income tax returns for several taxpayers between February 2019 and January 2023 in which the fuel tax credit was claimed; and DYM Financial Services, an entity operated by her son, Ricky Darnell Matthews, was the platform used to file these returns with the Internal Revenue Service. In many cases, the returns of the taxpayers claiming the fuel tax credit included false assertions that the taxpayer had used hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel.

In additional to the conspiracy charge, Yoshi Dawn Matthews and Ricky Darnell Matthews are also charged with making false statements on their own income tax returns.

Memphis Business Owner Indicted for Failing to Pay Employment Taxes Collected from Employee's Wages

The federal grand jury also returned an indictment charging Julie Robinson Wade with failing to pay over to the Internal Revenue Service employment taxes collected from the wages of employees who worked for a company she owned.

Wade owned a company that fabricated and installed granite fixtures such as countertops, showers, and fireplaces. As alleged in the indictment, Wade failed to file the Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Returns for the period between 2019 and 2021. During those time periods, employment taxes were collected from employees, but no payments were made to the IRS. Additionally, the indictment alleges that Wade failed to truthfully account for and pay over to the IRS all federal income taxes withheld and Medicare and Social Security taxes collected from the employees of her company during the period between 2020 and 2022.

The total of the employment taxes not paid to the IRS was approximately $147,676.00. A report date in this case is set for April 21, 2026 before U.S. District Court Judge Brian C. Lea. Each violation is punishable by imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine of up to $100,000.00 or both, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "During tax filing season and the entire year, we are acting decisively to protect innocent taxpayers and the U.S. Treasury. We commend the outstanding investigative work of IRS-CI in these significant tax fraud cases."

"Dishonest tax return preparers who think they can outmaneuver the tax system should take note that IRS Criminal Investigation will uncover these schemes and work alongside the U.S. Attorney's Office to hold those responsible accountable," said Special Agent in Charge Donald "Trey" Eakins of IRS Criminal Investigation's Charlotte Field Office. "These indictments are a great reminder to those trying to cheat the taxpayers; our team will continue to aggressively pursue anyone who tries to defraud the nation's tax system."

These cases were investigated by Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Murphy is prosecuting these cases on behalf of the United States Government.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations of criminal conduct, and not evidence. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.

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