Anthony Horton, 37, of Philadelphia, is at the center of a sprawling federal indictment accusing him and five others of running a years-long fraud operation that bled government programs of millions. The scheme, described in a sweeping indictment unsealed today, relied on forged identities, phantom businesses, and falsified tax returns to steal unemployment benefits and trigger illegal IRS refunds — a fraud that federal prosecutors say was both brazen and deeply organized.
Alongside Horton are Aaron Horton, Jr., 39, formerly of Philadelphia; Thomas Gillis, 39, of Philadelphia; Faith Charlton, 34, of Philadelphia; Lynda Slaughter, 36, of Sharon Hill; and Marie “Kellie” Slaughter, 32, of Philadelphia. All six are charged with conspiracy against the United States, mail fraud, filing false tax returns, aggravated identity theft, and making false statements. The indictment alleges the group created shell companies using stolen personal information to file for unemployment and other benefits they were never entitled to.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the fraud spanned multiple federal systems. The defendants allegedly submitted dozens of false claims to the IRS, using the stolen identities to file returns with inflated refunds. They also weaponized the pandemic-era unemployment expansion, setting up fake employer entities to claim benefits while posing as legitimate business owners. Investigators say the network operated under the radar for years, cycling through identities and accounts to avoid detection.
“This was not petty crime,” said United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen. “This was a calculated, coordinated attack on public trust and taxpayer dollars.” Each count carries severe penalties, and if convicted, all defendants face substantial prison time and full restitution to the federal government. The exact dollar loss is still being tallied, but early estimates place the fraud well into the seven figures.
The investigation was a joint effort by the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Social Security Administration – OIG, the IRS Criminal Investigation Division, and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda R. Reinitz, who called the indictment a warning to those who exploit government relief systems.
An indictment is not a conviction. Anthony Horton, Aaron Horton, Jr., Thomas Gillis, Faith Charlton, Lynda Slaughter, and Marie “Kellie” Slaughter are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Arraignment dates are expected to be set within the coming weeks in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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