Sugarland TX peeps — Fort Bend County tax assessor-collector charged in wire fraud scheme

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The elected tax assessor-collector of Fort Bend County—Carmen Patrice Turner, 65, Richmond—faces charges involving conspiracy, theft concerning federal program funds, and wire fraud. Also indicted are Shemerrylyn Regina Fields, 47, of Rosharon, and Victor Calvin Ewing, 69, of Houston, whom Turner allegedly hired as part of the scheme.

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Turner allegedly hired Fields and another individual as deputy tax clerks but directed them to provide care for her elderly mother during regular county work hours. According to the charges, Turner instructed them to clock in and out remotely through the county’s telephone timekeeping system while falsely reporting they were performing their official duties.

The indictment further alleges Turner hired Ewing as a full-time department coordinator despite knowing he already worked full-time for a company in Chicago, Illinois, and would not perform the duties of the county position. Ewing allegedly received a county salary while continuing his employment in Chicago. According to the indictment, he also agreed to transfer a portion of his county payroll deposits to Turner. In one instance, Ewing allegedly transferred money to Turner through Cash App after receiving a county payroll payment.

Turner, Fields, and Ewing allegedly used false timesheets, concealed their actual work activities, and maintained access to county computer systems to create the appearance of legitimate employment.

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