Justice Department · Friday, September 4, 2026
Seven charged in alleged $57 million tax-refund scheme
The File desk · Sep. 4, 2026, 8:04 a.m. ET
Status
Confirmed as allegations in a superseding indictment announced by the Justice Department on Sept. 3, 2026. An indictment is an allegation; defendants are presumed innocent.
On Sept. 3, 2026, the Justice Department said a superseding indictment was unsealed charging Andrea and Kent Shannon of Kuna, Idaho, and five others with and related counts. Prosecutors allege the group filed over 100 fictitious returns or financial instruments and claimed more than $57 million in refunds, with more than $8 million allegedly received from the Internal Revenue Service in 2023–2024. Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division announced the case. An indictment is an allegation. Defendants are presumed innocent. Press release 26-1018. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating.
Legal instrument
Wire fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343)
It is a federal crime to use a phone line, the internet, or another wire to carry out a scheme to cheat someone out of money or property. The maximum penalty is 20 years in prison.
Justice Department Office of Public Affairs, Thursday, September 3, 2026, press release 26-1018: “A superseding indictment was unsealed yesterday charging an Idaho man and woman and five non-Idaho residents with , making false claims and money laundering.”
Legal instrument
Wire fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343)
It is a federal crime to use a phone line, the internet, or another wire to carry out a scheme to cheat someone out of money or property. The maximum penalty is 20 years in prison.
Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald, as quoted: “As alleged, this group of fraudsters participated in a $57 million tax fraud scheme, filing over 100 fictious returns and ultimately receiving more than $8 million in taxpayer dollars from the IRS.” The release names Andrea and Kent Shannon of Kuna, Idaho, Monika Skinger of Chicago, Sherita Chandler of Port St. Lucie, Florida, Saule Moshkanova of Roseville, California, Tiffany Nichols of Suwanee, Georgia, and Stacey Rice of Manteca, California. The alleged period is 2023 through 2024.
“IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.” The release states: “An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.” No trial schedule is in the release. No convictions are claimed.
What is still unknown or disputed
- No convictions. Trial schedule is not in the release.
Primary sources
Every claim in this story is drawn from the documents below. If a fetch failed, that is recorded on the card.
Source 1
Seven Charged in $57M Tax Refund Fraud Scheme
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs · September 3, 2026
A superseding indictment was unsealed yesterday charging an Idaho man and woman and five non-Idaho residents… As alleged… filing over 100 fictious returns and ultimately receiving more than $8 million… Press Release Number: 26-1018. An indictment is merely an allegation.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/seven-charged-57m-tax-refund-fraud-scheme