INDIANAPOLIS- Gregory Vernon Dupree, 38, of Muncie, has been charged in a federal indictment with eight counts of filing false COVID-19 claims,including claims for the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) and COVID‑related Sick and Family Leave credits. These charges were brought as part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.According to the indictment, between January 2021 and January 2022, Dupree allegedly filed eight Forms 941 (Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return) with the Internal Revenue Service. Through these filings, Dupree made claims against the United States requesting refunds totaling over $1 million, knowing those claims to be false. The Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations investigated this case. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Eakman, who is prosecuting this case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.An indictment or criminal complaint are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.###
Source: U.S. Department of Justice