York Woman With Multiple Personas Masterminds $1M IRS Fraud Scheme: DOJ

Federal prosecutors said on Wednesday, August 13, that a York woman had planned a complex conspiracy to file a fictitious check and file false tax forms in order to steal over $1 million from the IRS.

Tax documents with a pen and calculator on top.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama, Queen Naja, 44, also known as Renata Winifred Ince and Naja Talibah Zahir, collaborated with Quentin Diego Sturgeon, 42, of Montgomery, Alabama, to execute the plot.

According to authorities, Naja suggested setting up a legal trust, sending false documents to the IRS, and using a fake check to get a sizable return when the two first connected on social media in April 2021.

As directed by her, Sturgeon established a trust and named himself as its trustee before sending the IRS several fictitious documents indicating that taxes had been paid. According to officials, Sturgeon then filed documentation asking for a return for an overpayment after Naja supplied a payment voucher and a fake cheque.

The IRS issued a U.S. Treasury check for $1,010,561.26 after the scheme was successful.

Sturgeon then acknowledged in court that he bought luxury personal goods, such as a Mercedes-Benz, with the stolen money.

In the upcoming months, Naja and Sturgeon will be sentenced to up to 20 years in federal prison, significant penalties, and restitution. The federal system does not have parole.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson, this decision should serve as a stark reminder that anyone found guilty of defrauding the US government will face consequences.

The case was looked into by the Montgomery Police Department and the IRS Criminal Investigation division.