Tenia A. Thompson, 51, ran a tax preparation business in Philadelphia that prosecutors say was also a pipeline for pandemic relief fraud. A federal indictment announced October 6 charges her with 69 counts, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania says the scheme produced at least $12 million in fraudulent loan proceeds.
The charges are allegations. The office notes that every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
What the indictment alleges
Thompson owned and operated Thompson Business and Tax Solutions and TBTS Taxes, together called TBTS, a financial services and tax preparation business. From about April 2020 through June 2024, prosecutors allege, she prepared false tax returns for individuals and businesses and helped them obtain COVID-19 disaster-related loans and tax benefits they were not entitled to. The release places the loan programs under the CARES Act, the 2020 pandemic relief law, and says Thompson was arrested and charged by indictment. It describes the charges as accusations only…