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June 23, 2022

Tennessee Woman Steals $300,000 in an IRS Impersonation Scheme

On April 11, 2022, special agents with the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration arrested Telisha Futrell in Jackson, Tennessee. Futrell was indicted on March 15, 2022, in the Western District of Tennessee for wire fraud, impersonating an officer or employee of the United States Government, obstruction of a grand jury investigation, and tampering with a witness or victim.

According to the court documents, beginning in May 2014 and continuing until about May 28, 2019, Futrell devised an impersonation scheme to defraud and obtain money by means of false pretenses. The scheme began when a victim was contacted through Facebook by an individual using the name “Jessica Johnson.” The victim and Johnson corresponded for several months, after which the victim received a telephone call from an individual claiming to be Johnson’s cousin. The cousin told the victim that Johnson had stage four cancer and did not have long to live. Subsequently, the victim was notified Johnson died and the victim was the beneficiary of a multi-million-dollar inheritance. In order to receive the inheritance, the victim was instructed to pay taxes in advance through an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employee named Shieka Obannon, who was actually Futrell.

Futrell introduced herself to the victim as an IRS employee. During the course of the scheme, Futrell portrayed the role of an IRS attorney, Federal agent, and other employees. To appear as an IRS employee, Futrell sent text messages, e-mails, and called the victim to collect purported tax payments. Futrell instructed the victim to pay her in cash and also via money transmitters, such as Western Union, JPay, and MoneyGram. The victim began making payments in 2015 and met with Futrell regularly. Futrell stole approximately $300,000 during the scheme.

Futrell repeatedly attempted to obstruct the Federal investigation against her when she provided false statements to special agents and tried to persuade one of the victims to lie about their knowledge of the investigation.

If convicted, Futrell could receive more than 20 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a fine of over $250,000.

Source:  The facts in this case narrative come from the following publicly available documents: W.D. Tenn., Arrest Warrant, filed April 15, 2022; and W.D. Tenn., Indict., filed March 15, 2022.