KUNA — An Idaho couple is facing federal charges after prosecutors say they helped orchestrate a sweeping tax fraud scheme that sent more than $57 million in fictitious financial instruments to the IRS.
Andrea and Kent Shannon of Kuna are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and filing false tax returns, according to an indictment unsealed in federal court in Boise. Kent Shannon also faces a money laundering charge.
They are among five defendants accused of submitting fraudulent individual and trust tax returns that claimed millions of dollars in refunds to which they were not entitled. The indictment alleges the Shannons and co-conspirators in Illinois and Florida attempted to trick the IRS into issuing the refunds by mailing more than 100 fake checks, money orders, and payment vouchers that falsely appeared to show tax payments totaling roughly $57 million…