LOS ANGELES – Two alleged participants in a $93 million COVID-19- related fraud scheme have been charged with attempting to murder the suspected leader of the operation, who is among four Southland residents arrested Thursday.
According to the indictment, Kristerpher Turner, 52, of Harbor City allegedly operated a scheme where he and associates would submit fraudulent forms to receive pandemic-related tax credits on behalf of their own purported businesses and on behalf of others recruited to the scheme.
Prosecutors contend Turner directed co-defendants Toriano Knox, 55, of Los Angeles, and Kenya Jones, 46, of Compton to recruit “clients,” resulting in bogus forms being submitted in the names of multiple businesses.
Participants would allegedly provide their personal identifying information to be used to establish fake businesses and prepare phony tax filings. Others would provide information about pre-existing businesses that were ineligible to receive the tax credits, so that co-conspirators could use the information to seek money on behalf of those businesses, prosecutors allege.
Those involved in the scheme received U.S. Treasury checks in the mail as a result of the fraudulent tax filings and would attempt to deposit the checks in business accounts opened in the name of the fake businesses at various banks, federal prosecutors allege.
Court papers state that as a result of the fraud, the Internal Revenue Service issued checks in the total amount of at least $93 million during the two-year scheme.
At some point, participants learned that law enforcement was making inquiries. According to the indictment, on or about Aug. 29, 2023, Knox, Jones and others attempted to kill Turner to prevent him from speaking to law enforcement, prosecutors allege.
Turner was shot multiple times in broad daylight, allegedly by Knox and Jones, at an office park in Gardena, and is now paralyzed, authorities said.
According to the indictment filed this month in Los Angeles federal court, Turner, Knox, Jones and Joyce Johnson, 55, of Victorville are charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud, and conspiracy to submit false claims. Knox and Jones are also charged with attempting to kill a witness and using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
A joint FBI-IRS press release said the four defendants were arrested Thursday.
