A Union City, Georgia truck driver has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for his role in a scheme that sought over $4 million in fraudulent COVID-19 employment tax credits. Dantavious Jackson, 39, was convicted of mail fraud after filing false claims for refunds through the IRS's employee retention credit program.
According to U.S. Attorney Margaret E. Heap for the Southern District of Georgia, Jackson operated a trucking business and also ran a side tax preparation service without properly identifying himself as required by law. He prepared and submitted tax returns as a “ghost preparer,” omitting his preparer identification number or any other means of identification on client filings.
“Tax preparers have a responsibility to accurately prepare tax returns on behalf of their clients. Jackson not only undermined the American tax system and the trust of taxpayers relying on his expertise,” said U.S. Attorney Heap, “but he also took advantage of pandemic relief funds that were intended to help individuals harmed by the pandemic. The sentence imposed by the Court reflects the serious nature of Jackson’s conduct. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia works closely with our partners at IRS Criminal Investigation to protect the law-abiding American public and the treasury by stopping this fraud.”
Court records indicate that Jackson filed thirty-five fraudulent IRS Forms 941 for himself and two clients, fabricating wages and employees to claim $4,112,297 in refunds under the employee retention credit provision from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This led to more than $1.5 million in fraudulent payments issued by the U.S. Treasury.
Jackson was ordered by Judge Dudley H. Bowen Jr. to pay restitution exceeding $1.5 million to the Internal Revenue Service. Federal parole is not available.
Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman from IRS Criminal Investigation stated: “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners will continue investigating and forwarding for prosecution, individuals like Dantavious Jackson, who defrauded American taxpayers at a time when businesses needed funds to help keep employees on their payrolls.” He added that during fiscal year 2025 alone, IRS Criminal Investigation began nearly 600 investigations into potentially fraudulent Employee Retention Credits totaling over $5 billion across several recent tax years.
The investigation was conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney George J.C. Jacobs III.
