{"id":62017,"date":"2026-10-21T17:10:28","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T00:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=62017"},"modified":"2026-10-21T17:20:59","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T00:20:59","slug":"los-angeles-man-pleads-guilty-in-9-3-million-covid-19-tax-credit-fraud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=62017","title":{"rendered":"Los Angeles Man Pleads Guilty in $9.3 Million COVID-19 Tax Credit Fraud"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"LOS ANGELES<\/span> <\/strong>\u2014\u00a0 A South Los Angeles man pleaded guilty to federal mail fraud charges in connection with a scheme that fraudulently obtained more than $9.3 million from the Internal Revenue Service through a COVID-19 business relief program, federal prosecutors stated Wednesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Darrick Wynell Brazier, 58, of the Manchester Square neighborhood, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud after admitting he submitted fraudulent employment tax returns seeking pandemic-related tax credits for businesses that had not paid qualifying wages.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to his plea agreement, Brazier carried out the scheme from July 2022 through December 2023, using tax preparation software to submit false claims under a federal program designed to reimburse businesses for wages paid to employees unable to work because of COVID-19.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act and subsequent amendments authorized refundable employment tax credits for eligible businesses that provided paid sick or family leave to employees affected by the pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"\"JusticeBusinesses seeking the credits were required to accurately report their number of employees, quarterly wages and qualifying leave payments.<\/span><\/p>\n

Instead, prosecutors said, Brazier submitted fraudulent IRS Forms 941, the employer’s quarterly federal tax return, on behalf of two businesses registered in his name: DWB Holdings LLC and Brazier Transportation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Both entities existed only on paper, according to his plea agreement. They claimed tax refunds based on wages supposedly paid to employees who did not exist.<\/span><\/p>\n

The IRS relied on the false information and mailed U.S. Treasury refund checks to Brazier on behalf of the shell companies.<\/span><\/p>\n

More than $1 million in kickbacks<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"\"Brazier also admitted helping clients submit fraudulent tax returns for businesses that were not eligible for the pandemic relief credits.<\/span><\/p>\n

In exchange, the clients paid him kickbacks when their fraudulent claims resulted in Treasury refund checks.<\/span><\/p>\n

The payments were made through cashier’s checks issued to Brazier, his businesses or other individuals and entities he designated.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prosecutors said Brazier helped submit fraudulent claims for at least six additional businesses and received approximately $1.1 million in kickbacks.<\/span><\/p>\n

In total, the scheme involving Brazier’s two shell companies and six client businesses sought approximately $11.5 million in fraudulent tax refunds.<\/span><\/p>\n

The IRS paid approximately $9.3 million on those claims.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brazier also admitted failing to report the illegal income he received from the scheme on his federal tax returns.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sentencing scheduled for February 2027<\/span><\/h3>\n

U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald scheduled Brazier’s sentencing for Feb. 24, 2027.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brazier faces up to 20 years in federal prison. <\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd34 QUICK FACT CHECKLIST<\/span><\/h3>\n

\ud83d\udd34 Defendant: Darrick Wynell Brazier, 58, Los Angeles.<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd34 Crime: Pleaded guilty to federal mail fraud.<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd34 Scheme: Used shell companies, fictitious employees and fraudulent tax returns.<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd34 Fraudulent Claims: Approximately $11.5 million.<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd34 IRS Loss: Approximately $9.3 million paid.<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd34 Kickbacks: Approximately $1.1 million.<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd34 Sentencing: Feb. 24, 2027.<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd34 Maximum Penalty: 20 years in federal prison.<\/span><\/p>\n

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LOS ANGELES \u2014\u00a0 A South Los Angeles man pleaded guilty to federal mail fraud charges in connection with a scheme that fraudulently obtained more than $9.3 million from the Internal Revenue Service…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7271,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-62017","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nLos Angeles Man Pleads Guilty in $9.3 Million COVID-19 Tax Credit Fraud<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"South Los Angeles man Darrick Brazier pleaded guilty to mail fraud in a scheme that obtained $9.3 million in fraudulent COVID-19 tax refunds from the IRS\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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