Sara Dechaune Harper, a 42-year-old from Lawrenceville, Georgia, and Amika Diane Gordon, 41, of Lansing, Michigan, were each sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for conspiring to defraud the United States out of nearly $200,000 in fraudulent tax refunds. The pair, once trusted professionals, now stand convicted of orchestrating a years-long scam that exploited federal fuel tax credit programs, leaving the U.S. Treasury out $199,263.
Chief United States District Judge Robert J. Jonker handed down the sentences this week in Grand Rapids, Michigan, ordering both women to also pay full restitution and serve three years of supervised release. The prosecution, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher O’Connor, detailed how Harper and Gordon filed 35 phony corporate tax returns between 2010 and 2014, fabricating purchases of fuel that never occurred through 10 shell companies designed solely to siphon federal funds.
A federal grand jury first indicted the duo in 2017 on charges of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States—a felony carrying up to five years behind bars. Evidence presented at sentencing confirmed the defendants created fake business entities and submitted false documentation to the IRS, claiming millions in credits they were never entitled to. While the IRS blocked 13 of the fraudulent filings, the scheme still succeeded in stealing $199,263 from the Treasury.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge didn’t mince words: “This case demonstrates that those who file false or fraudulent tax returns face prison sentences and potentially a lifetime of debt to the United States.” His warning echoes across tax season, a time when schemes like these thrive in the shadows of legitimate filings.
Special Agent in Charge Manny J. Muriel of IRS Criminal Investigation added, “Taxpayers need to be especially vigilant during the tax filing season, which is in full swing.” He stressed that agents are actively tracking down fraudsters. “The sentences handed down in this case should serve as notice to others of the consequences should they want to press their luck.”
The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted under the Department of Justice’s ongoing crackdown on tax fraud. Harper and Gordon now face not just prison time, but a permanent stain on their records—and a debt to repay every dollar they stole from the American people.
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Key Facts
- State: Michigan
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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