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In total, from approximately June 2020 and December 2024, the defendants and their co-conspirators submitted and caused the submission of fraudulent forms for at least 148 companies, seeking a total of approximately $247,956,938 in tax refunds to which they were not entitled. In reliance on the fraudulent forms and the false statements, the IRS issued Treasury checks in the total amount of at least approximately $93 million.

At some point during the scheme, the now-defendants learned that the IRS and others were making inquiries about their fraudulent activity. According to the indictment, on or about August 29, 2023, defendants Knox, Jones, and others known and unknown to the grand jury, attempted to kill defendant Kristerpher Turner in order to prevent him from speaking to law enforcement about the fraud. Turner was shot multiple times in broad daylight at an office park in Gardena. He survived and is paralyzed. Knox and Jones are also charged with using a firearm in the furtherance of a crime of violence.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted of the charges, the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison on each mail fraud charge. Knox and Jones would face life imprisonment on the firearm charge and 30 years on the attempted murder charge.
This case is being investigated by the FBI, TIGTA, and the IRS—Criminal Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Reidy and Haoxiaohan Cai of the Major Frauds Section, and Kevin J. Butler of the Violent and Organized Crime Section are prosecuting this case.

https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/losangeles/news/four-charged-in-the-nations-largest-known-covid-tax-credit-fraud-scheme