Benton County woman ordered to repay $1.4M in federal tax fraud case
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ABERDEEN – A Benton County woman who submitted fraudulent tax forms to steal more than $1.4 in pandemic relief funds was sentenced to more than four years in federal prison this week and ordered to pay full restitution.
Patricia Jones, 44, of Lamar, was indicted in June 2025 on 10 counts of wire fraud. She reportedly submitted false and fraudulent IRS forms to obtain Employee Retention Credit funds, which were designed to encourage employers to continue to pay employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Court documents show Jones submitted forms on behalf of herself and others, claiming over $3.8 million in fraudulent refunds and generating over $1.4 million in fraudulent payments by the IRS to herself and others.
Facing up to 20 years per charge, Jones agreed to plead guilty to a single count in late March. In exchange for her plea, the government dropped the remaining counts.
Tuesday morning in Aberdeen, Senior U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Jones to serve 50 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The former tax preparer and hair dresser was also ordered to pay $1,422.022 in restitution. Jones is scheduled to report Aug. 24 to a facility designated later by the Bureau of Prisons.
In April, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. Its core mission is to investigate and prosecute those who fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars.
"The initiative is working thanks to the hard work of federal investigators and prosecutors who devote themselves to these often-complex cases," said U.S. Attorney Leary. "I congratulate these men and woman who seek to ensure that taxpayer funded benefits go to where they are intended."
Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman of the IRS-CI Atlanta Field Office agreed, saying the sentencing of Jones reaffirms their commitment to protecting the integrity of the nation's tax system.
"Individuals who cheat the American taxpayer undermine public trust and siphon resources intended to support our communities," Hardeman said. "IRS Criminal Investigation special agents are highly trained financial investigators, skilled at following the money, uncovering complex fraud schemes, and ensuring that individuals who attempt to cheat the American taxpayer are held fully accountable."
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