COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) – Four Columbus men have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a pandemic-tax-related fraud scheme.
The sentences include prison time, supervised release, and restitution amounts that will go to the United States Treasury.
- Christopher Upshaw, aka “Troub,” 26
- Sentenced to 8 years in prison
- Five years of supervised release
- Ordered to pay $411,112.21 in restitution
- Johnathan Swift, aka “John Boy,” 34
- Sentenced to serve five years and three months
- Five years of supervised release
- Ordered to pay $417,095. 56 in restitution
- Dontavis Williams, aka “Turk,” 41
- Sentenced to nine years and seven months in prison
- Five years of supervised release
- Ordered to pay $156,531.74 in restitution
- Donterious Sparks, 37
- Sentenced to three years and five months in prison
- Five years of supervised release
- Ordered to pay $311,072.55 in restitution
Upshaw pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud on Feb. 4. The other defendants pleaded guilty to the same charge on Jan. 21.
Each received their sentence on Aug. 5. This comes as a result of a $17 million pandemic fraud plot.
Investigation launched into pandemic tax fraud
According to court documents and evidence presented at the sentencing, officials say that law enforcement was first alerted to the scheme when unusually large IRS deposits landed in the bank account of 32-year-old Tommie Mullins of Columbus. Investigators made the discovery in a joint law enforcement effort, “Operation Sweet Silence.”…