OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – A mother and daughter from Oklahoma City have confessed to a brazen scheme involving stolen identities, tax refund fraud, and a calculated attempt to frame an innocent family member, federal prosecutors announced today. KASHARA STEWART and her mother, WONICA STEWART POPE, both of Oklahoma City, pleaded guilty before Honorable Judge Joe Heaton to federal charges stemming from a years-long investigation.
The case began to unravel in February 2017 when a grand jury indicted Kashara Stewart with seven counts of tax fraud and seven counts of aggravated identity theft. The indictment detailed how, between January and December 2012, Stewart filed fraudulent federal income tax returns using stolen identities. These returns included fabricated W-2 forms for nonexistent employers, directing the resulting tax refunds into her personal bank account. The scheme involved exploiting vulnerable individuals and defrauding the United States government.
The deception didn’t stop there. As investigators closed in, Wonica Stewart Pope attempted a desperate act of self-preservation. On August 29, 2013, Pope left a voicemail for an IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent, falsely confessing to the crimes. In a stunning twist, she impersonated her sister, WENOCA STEWART, in a bid to shield her daughter from prosecution. This act of framing not only obstructed justice but dragged an innocent family member into the criminal investigation.
The scheme backfired. A subsequent grand jury indictment in November 2016 charged Wenoca Stewart alongside Kashara Stewart with conspiracy and tax fraud, based in part on Pope’s false confession. However, after investigators discovered Pope’s deception, the United States Attorney’s Office swiftly moved to dismiss all charges against Wenoca Stewart on February 28, 2017, clearing her name and ending her involvement in the legal proceedings.
During today’s plea hearing, Kashara Stewart admitted to filing a false tax return in October 2012, claiming a refund based on a fabricated W-2, all without the victim’s consent. She confessed to retaining the fraudulently obtained funds. Pope also entered a guilty plea, admitting to the false confession and her deliberate attempt to mislead investigators by impersonating her sister and falsely claiming her husband’s recent death—a detail meant to evoke sympathy and divert attention from her daughter’s actions. She admitted she acted to protect Kashara, knowing she was responsible for the scheme.
Now, both mother and daughter face the consequences of their actions. Kashara Stewart faces a potential maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, along with three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and restitution to the IRS for the full amount of fraudulent tax filings. Wonica Stewart Pope faces a maximum of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing dates will be determined by the court at a later time. The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney K. McKenzie Anderson.
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Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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