A federal jury in Ocala, Florida has found Clarence Christofer Ward, also known as Khaled Yaqud Mansur-El, guilty of wire fraud, money laundering, and making a false claim to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The verdict was announced by United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. Ward faces up to 125 years in federal prison, with sentencing yet to be scheduled.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that in November 2020, Ward filed an electronic tax return on behalf of a Trust bearing his name. On this return, he falsely stated that the Trust had paid more than $7 million in taxes for 2019 and requested a refund of $4.1 million from the IRS. The fraudulent tax return was submitted from the Middle District of Florida and processed in Utah.
IRS records contradicted Ward’s claims, showing that the Trust had not paid any federal taxes for 2019. However, before the IRS detected the falsehood, it issued the $4.1 million refund to Ward. He then used these funds to purchase four residential properties, acquire a luxury vehicle, pay for vacations, and invest in brokerage accounts. During the trial, jurors decided that these properties could be forfeited to the United States.
"This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson."
