Leon Haynes, COVID-19 Tax Relief Fraud, New Jersey 2025

A tax preparer from New Jersey has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in a COVID-19 tax relief fraud scheme that sought over $170 million in fraudulent refunds.

Leon Haynes, 52, of Teaneck, New Jersey, was convicted of 15 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false tax returns, one count of mail fraud, and two counts of tax evasion following a six-day jury trial in November 2025. He was ordered to pay more than $55 million in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.

The case, which is the largest COVID-19 tax relief fraud case to be tried to date in the country, demonstrates the National Fraud Enforcement Division’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for schemes that steal taxpayer dollars.

In the District of Colorado, two individuals were sentenced in connection with a fraud ring that stole millions in government funds and victimized thousands of people nationwide. Ikponmwosa Erhinmwinrose, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison, while Nyerhovwo Presley Agbure, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison.

The duo applied for more than $90 million in government benefits and stole more than $7.6 million in government benefits from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, multiple state unemployment insurance programs including from the state of Colorado, and tax refunds.

In the Middle District of Florida, Viviana Barnwell was sentenced to two years in prison for concealing the death of her adult son, who was a beneficiary of Social Security disability benefits. Despite reporting him missing to the local police, Barnwell continued to receive monthly benefit payments onto her son’s debit card, which she used to withdraw and spend his benefits for her own use. The total loss was $96,186.

Elsewhere, the owner of a fossil replica company in the Eastern District of Missouri was indicted for fraudulently seeking disability benefits. Scott A. Taylor, 50, is still on probation from a prior disability fraud case and faces a new indictment accusing him of applying for Social Security disability benefits in January 2026, falsely claiming that he had not worked since 1993.

The National Fraud Enforcement Division has been established to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. The division will fulfill its mission by coordinating investigations and prosecutions across the country.

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