IRS employees charged with scamming government of COVID relief funds

Five current or former employees in Tennessee and Mississippi with the Internal Revenue Service IRS have been charged with scamming the federal government of hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID 19 relief funds to bankroll extravagant lifestyles.

The suspects were accused of receiving money through the Paycheck Protection Program PPP and Economic Injury Disaster Loan EIDL Program, designed to help business owners meet their financial obligations during the epidemic.

The individuals acting out of pure greed took government funds meant for citizens and businesses that desperately needed it, said Kevin G. Ritz, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.

The defendants were accused of submitting false loan applications that collectively sought more than $1 million. They used the money to purchase luxury cars and travel, including trips to Las Vegas.

Brian Saulsberry, 46, of Memphis, Tennessee, is charged with two counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. He worked for the Human Capital Office as a program evaluation and risk analyst and submitted four EIDL applications. He allegedly received $171,400 and spent a portion of the money on a Mercedes-Benz and deposited additional funds into a personal investment account.

Courtney Quinshe Westmoreland, 38, of Cordova, Tennessee, is charged with three counts of wire fraud. She claimed she wasn't working for the IRS while she was employed, the Justice Department said. She used the $11,500 in loan funds for manicures and massages, and to purchase luxury clothing.

Fatina Hewitt, 35, of Olive Branch, Mississippi, is charged with one count of wire fraud. Hewitt spent $28,900 on Gucci clothes and a trip to Las Vegas, authorities said.

Roderick DeMarco White, 27, of Memphis, has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Tina Humes, 56, of Memphis, was charged with a single count of wire fraud, allegedly spending $123,612 in loan funds on jewelry and trips to Las Vegas.

She has pleaded guilty to one count of fraud. Each suspect faces up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count and 10 years for money laundering.