MEDIA RELEASE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF BIBB COUNTY, GA. DAVID J. DAVIS SHERIFF
May 13, 2025 Update Death Investigation at Freedom Park The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a death that occurred in the 3300 block of Roff Ave, Freedom Park just after 11:30pm Monday night. Deputies responded to Freedom Park in reference to a person down near the lake. Upon arrival deputies found a 39-year-old male ,later identified as Jarvis Kentral Curtis suffering from a single gunshot wound. The Curtis was later pronounced deceased on scene by the Coroner’s Office. According to the Coroner’s Office the next of kin has been notified.
Bibb County Sheriff's Office Investigators are still determining what lead up to the shooting. The male will be sent for an autopsy.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact the Bibb Sheriff’s Office at 478-751 -7500 or the Macon Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-877-68CRIME. ... See MoreSee Less
If you have any details related to this case, please do you part to help and " Make the Call " at 478.742.23330, or 877.68.crime or use os website to submit a tip, confidentially at www.crimestop.us... See MoreSee Less
May 11-17, 2025 We are proud to recognize National Police Week, which was established to honor the courageous men and woman in law enforcement who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, while also recognizing the ongoing efforts of officers who continue to protect our communities every day. ... See MoreSee Less
If you have any information related to the below case do your part to help and " Make the Call " at 478.742.2330, or 877.68crime or use our website, www.crimestop.us, and remain 100 % anonymous. ... See MoreSee Less
Athens Tax Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Filing $3.5+ Million in False Returns
Defendant Received a Portion of Proceeds from Clients’ Fraudulent Pandemic Benefit Claims
MACON, Ga. – A tax preparer who admitted to filing more than $3.5 million in fraudulent tax returns tied to a multi-state investigation of a COVID-19 pandemic unemployment benefit scheme in which she received a percentage of the ill-gotten gains was sentenced to serve eight years in prison for her crime.
Jessica Crawford, 34, of Athens, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 96 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self, III on May 8. Crawford previously pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aiding and assisting in preparing and presenting false income tax returns on Nov. 22, 2024. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Federal law enforcement uncovered a large-scale tax return scheme during the pandemic that was costing taxpayers while benefiting fraudsters,” said Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker. “Alongside our law enforcement partners, federal prosecutors will continue to uphold the law and pursue justice in these cases.”
“Jessica Crawford used her position as a tax preparer to defraud the U.S. government through a CARES Act program intended for those unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Atlanta Field Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge Lisa Fontanette. “In addition, she continued her theft of taxpayers’ money by fraudulently filing tax returns on behalf of her clients. The sentencing Crawford received should serve notice to unscrupulous tax preparers that IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners will continue investigating and holding them accountable for their unethical conduct.”
"Jessica Crawford lied and took advantage of funds designed to help those who were truly in need during the pandemic," said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. "The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to identify and hold accountable anyone who defrauds taxpayers."
According to court documents and statements made in court, FBI agents investigating a multi-state unemployment benefit scheme conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic discovered text messages between individuals involved in the scheme and Crawford, a tax preparer with Crawford Tax Services in Athens. Crawford filed for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits on behalf of those individuals who had created fake businesses or submitted false information to fraudulently obtain benefits. In return, Crawford received a percentage of the ill-gotten gains.
Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) agents executed an undercover operation at Crawford’s business in April 2022 as part of the continuing investigation. The undercover agent (UA) met Crawford to have taxes prepared, and Crawford asked if the UA did anything on the side. At first, the UA responded no, but Crawford said that expenses could be deducted if he did, and the UA said he mowed an aunt’s lawn sometimes, which Crawford said was good enough. The UA did not provide any income or expense amounts. Still, Crawford created a Schedule C business for landscaping on the UA's federal income tax return based solely on that interaction. Crawford prepared a Form 1040 and filed electronically, including a fictitious Schedule C loss of $19,373, and claimed an Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a Child Tax Credit (CTC), and a Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction, which were affected by the fraudulent Schedule C loss. As a result, the UA’s return claimed a fraudulent federal income tax refund of $12,359.
The IRS completed a statistical review of 1,261 total tax returns filed by Crawford in tax years 2020 and 2021. Of those, the IRS determined that Crawford fraudulently filed tax returns on behalf of clients, resulting in losses to the IRS exceeding $3 million from falsely claimed Form 7202 credits for sick leave and family leave, tax credits and dependent care credits.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the IRS-CI.
Criminal Chief Leah E. McEwen prosecuted the case for the Government.
Macon Regional Crimestoppers
MEDIA RELEASE
OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF
BIBB COUNTY, GA.
DAVID J. DAVIS SHERIFF
May 13, 2025
Update
Death Investigation at Freedom Park
The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a death that occurred in the 3300 block of Roff Ave, Freedom Park just after 11:30pm Monday night.
Deputies responded to Freedom Park in reference to a person down near the lake. Upon arrival deputies found a 39-year-old male ,later identified as Jarvis Kentral Curtis suffering from a single gunshot wound. The Curtis was later pronounced deceased on scene by the Coroner’s Office.
According to the Coroner’s Office the next of kin has been notified.
Bibb County Sheriff's Office Investigators are still determining what lead up to the shooting. The male will be sent for an autopsy.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact the Bibb Sheriff’s Office at 478-751 -7500 or the Macon Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-877-68CRIME. ... See MoreSee Less
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If you have any details related to this case, please do you part to help and
" Make the Call " at 478.742.23330, or 877.68.crime or use os website to submit a tip, confidentially at www.crimestop.us ... See MoreSee Less
Shooting leaves 1 man dead at a Macon park, deputies investigate
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May 11-17, 2025
We are proud to recognize National Police Week, which was established to honor the courageous men and woman in law enforcement who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, while also recognizing the ongoing efforts of officers who continue to protect our communities every day. ... See MoreSee Less
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If you have any information related to the below case do your part to help and " Make the Call " at 478.742.2330, or 877.68crime or use our website, www.crimestop.us, and remain 100 % anonymous. ... See MoreSee Less
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Perry neighbors anxious as quadruple homicide investigation continues | Here's what we know ... See MoreSee Less
Perry neighbors anxious as quadruple homicide investigation continues | Here's what we know
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Person of interest remains in custody as Perry Police continue quadruple homicide investigation0 CommentsComment on Facebook
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After the event, Kemp signed another bill later in the day that would provide Hurricane Helene aid to timber and agriculture.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Athens Tax Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Filing $3.5+ Million in False Returns
Defendant Received a Portion of Proceeds from Clients’ Fraudulent Pandemic Benefit Claims
MACON, Ga. – A tax preparer who admitted to filing more than $3.5 million in fraudulent tax returns tied to a multi-state investigation of a COVID-19 pandemic unemployment benefit scheme in which she received a percentage of the ill-gotten gains was sentenced to serve eight years in prison for her crime.
Jessica Crawford, 34, of Athens, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 96 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self, III on May 8. Crawford previously pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aiding and assisting in preparing and presenting false income tax returns on Nov. 22, 2024. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Federal law enforcement uncovered a large-scale tax return scheme during the pandemic that was costing taxpayers while benefiting fraudsters,” said Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker. “Alongside our law enforcement partners, federal prosecutors will continue to uphold the law and pursue justice in these cases.”
“Jessica Crawford used her position as a tax preparer to defraud the U.S. government through a CARES Act program intended for those unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Atlanta Field Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge Lisa Fontanette. “In addition, she continued her theft of taxpayers’ money by fraudulently filing tax returns on behalf of her clients. The sentencing Crawford received should serve notice to unscrupulous tax preparers that IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners will continue investigating and holding them accountable for their unethical conduct.”
"Jessica Crawford lied and took advantage of funds designed to help those who were truly in need during the pandemic," said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. "The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to identify and hold accountable anyone who defrauds taxpayers."
According to court documents and statements made in court, FBI agents investigating a multi-state unemployment benefit scheme conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic discovered text messages between individuals involved in the scheme and Crawford, a tax preparer with Crawford Tax Services in Athens. Crawford filed for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits on behalf of those individuals who had created fake businesses or submitted false information to fraudulently obtain benefits. In return, Crawford received a percentage of the ill-gotten gains.
Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) agents executed an undercover operation at Crawford’s business in April 2022 as part of the continuing investigation. The undercover agent (UA) met Crawford to have taxes prepared, and Crawford asked if the UA did anything on the side. At first, the UA responded no, but Crawford said that expenses could be deducted if he did, and the UA said he mowed an aunt’s lawn sometimes, which Crawford said was good enough. The UA did not provide any income or expense amounts. Still, Crawford created a Schedule C business for landscaping on the UA's federal income tax return based solely on that interaction. Crawford prepared a Form 1040 and filed electronically, including a fictitious Schedule C loss of $19,373, and claimed an Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a Child Tax Credit (CTC), and a Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction, which were affected by the fraudulent Schedule C loss. As a result, the UA’s return claimed a fraudulent federal income tax refund of $12,359.
The IRS completed a statistical review of 1,261 total tax returns filed by Crawford in tax years 2020 and 2021. Of those, the IRS determined that Crawford fraudulently filed tax returns on behalf of clients, resulting in losses to the IRS exceeding $3 million from falsely claimed Form 7202 credits for sick leave and family leave, tax credits and dependent care credits.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the IRS-CI.
Criminal Chief Leah E. McEwen prosecuted the case for the Government.
🔗 www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/athens-tax-preparer-sentenced-prison-filing-35-million-false-returns
The United States Department of Justice
United States Attorneys' Offices
FBI - Atlanta
FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation
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