Las Vegas Woman Pleads Guilty To Fraudulently Seeking Nearly $100M In COVID-19 Employment Tax Credits
Summary
A press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada dated Friday, February 14, 2025, announcing that Candies Goode-McCoy, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States through claims for refunds of false COVID-19 related employment tax credits. The release, citing court documents and statements made in court, states that from around June 2022 through September 2023 she filed approximately 1,227 false tax returns for her businesses and others claiming the employee retention credit and the paid sick and family leave credit. The release states that the claims sought refunds of over $98 million, of which the IRS paid approximately $33 million. It states that she personally received over $1.3 million in refunds and was paid about $800,000 by those for whom she filed returns.
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Press Release Las Vegas Woman Pleads Guilty To Fraudulently Seeking Nearly $100M In COVID-19 Employment Tax Credits Friday, February 14, 2025 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Nevada IRS Paid Out $33M of the $98M Defendant Sought LAS VEGAS - A Nevada woman pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to defraud the United States by making claims for refunds of false COVID-19 related employment tax credits. According to court documents and statements made in court, Candies Goode-McCoy, of Las Vegas, conspired with others to file tax returns seeking fraudulent refunds based on the employee retention credit (ERC) and paid sick and family leave credit. From around June 2022 through September 2023, McCoy filed approximately 1,227 false tax returns for her businesses and others claiming these refundable credits. In total, these claims sought refunds of over $98 million, of which the IRS paid approximately $33 million. McCoy personally received over $1.3 million in fraudulent refunds and was paid about $800,000 from those on whose behalf she filed fraudulent returns. McCoy knew that these returns were fraudulent. Neither she nor the others for whom she filed them were eligible to receive the refundable credits in the amounts claimed. McCoy used the proceeds for her personal benefit, including the purchase of luxury cars, gambling at casinos, vacations and other luxury goods. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact, Congress authorized the ERC for small businesses to reduce the employment tax owed to the IRS. Congress also authorized the IRS to give a credit against employment taxes to reimburse businesses for the wages paid to employees who were on sick or family leave and could not work because of COVID-19. This credit was equal to the wages the business paid the employees during the sick or family leave, subject to a maximum amount. McCoy is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 23, 2026. She faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison as well as a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration are investigating the case. Trial Attorney John C. Gerardi of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Anthony Lopez for the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case. ### Updated February 14, 2025 Topic Tax Components Tax Division USAO - Nevada Related Content Press Release Las Vegas Return Preparer Pleads Guilty To Filing False Tax Returns For Clients LAS VEGAS – The operator of a Las Vegas tax return preparation business pleaded guilty today to preparing false income tax returns on behalf of her clients causing at least... March 12, 2025 Press Release Nevada CPA Sentenced To Three Years In Prison In False Tax Return Scheme LAS VEGAS – A Nevada man was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison for willfully aiding and assisting the filing of false tax returns, in connection with a scheme... January 17, 2024 Press Release Nevada Owner Of Three Mexican Restaurants Sentenced To Prison For Tax Evasion LAS VEGAS – A Nevada restaurant owner was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for skimming $5 million dollars in cash sales and filing false federal income tax returns... January 4, 2024
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