Reagan T. Fondren Acting United States Attorney for the Western District Of Tennessee | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee
Quannah Fields Harris, a 53-year-old resident of Memphis, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for defrauding the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) out of more than $2.9 million. The sentencing follows her conviction by a jury in October 2025.
On February 2, 2026, United States District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. ordered Harris to serve 96 months in prison and pay restitution totaling $2,905,853.09 to the VA. The charges included conspiracy to defraud the United States and wire fraud.
Court documents revealed that from 2014 to 2019, Harris owned Last Minute Cuts School of Barbering and Cosmetology in Memphis. During this time, she submitted fraudulent claims under the GI Bill program—intended to help veterans acquire vocational skills—by enrolling veterans who did not attend classes or receive instruction at her school. Many never returned after enrollment but were still billed as active students for years.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant stated: “Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces deserve our honor and respect, and this office will always protect them. Victimizing the VA harms veterans and deserves significant punishment. Harris will now spend every ‘last minute’ of her lengthy sentence in federal prison for her crimes against our nation’s best.”
Federal sentences do not allow parole.
Special Agent in Charge Nate Landkammer from the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General's Mid-Atlantic Field Office commented: "This sentence demonstrates that the VA OIG and our law enforcement partners will aggressively pursue those who defraud VA," adding that protecting the integrity of VA's Post-9/11 GI Bill is a priority.
Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge at IRS Criminal Investigation’s Charlotte Field Office said: “The defendant schemed to defraud the government, got caught, and is now being held accountable,” noting ongoing efforts with law enforcement partners to track financial fraud against federal programs.
The investigation was conducted by agents from VA-Office of Inspector General (OIG), IRS-Criminal Investigations, with support from Veterans Benefits Administration-Education Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Arvin prosecuted the case.
