Former Crimson Tide Basketball Star Indicted In $177M Tax Fraud Scheme

MOBILE, AL — Former University of Alabama basketball standout Kennedy Winston is among six people recently indicted for federal tax fraud.

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The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Alabama says the scheme involving more than 9,000 fraudulent tax returns sought more than $177 million in refunds.

Winston, 42, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud in connection with the alleged scheme, which federal prosecutors say resulted in approximately $81 million in refunds being issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The former Crimson Tide star was one of five employees of JB Accounting Tax Service LLC, a Mobile-based tax preparation business owned and operated by Jennifer Beverly, 47, who is also charged in the case.

Winston, a Mobile native and Blount High School graduate, was Alabama's Mr. Basketball in 2002, going on to play for the Crimson Tide under former head coach Mark Gottfried.

A two-time first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection, Winston helped lead Alabama to the Elite Eight of the 2004 NCAA Tournament, the deepest postseason run in program history at the time.

Federal prosecutors say Beverly operated JB Accounting Tax Service from approximately 2022 through 2024, employing Winston and four other defendants identified as Jadasha Bowman, 28; Solida Lucille Green, 36; Paris Lovett, also known as Paris Johnson, 30; and Shermeka Benjamin, 38.

The indictment alleges that the defendants participated in a scheme from approximately 2021 through 2024 to prepare and submit fraudulent federal income tax returns containing false claims for various tax credits and deductions.

Among the allegedly fraudulent items were COVID-19 credits, fuel tax credits, education credits, estimated tax payments and other deductions and credits reported on federal tax forms.

Federal investigators allege the operation submitted more than 9,000 fraudulent returns requesting refunds totaling more than $177 million, with approximately $81 million ultimately paid out.

"The allegations in this case reveal a staggering abuse of the federal tax system, involving more than 9,000 allegedly fraudulent tax returns, over $177 million in refund claims, and approximately $81 million in refunds issued," said Maisha Horton, acting special agent in charge of IRS Criminal Investigation's Atlanta Field Office. "Tax return preparers are entrusted with sensitive financial information and have a responsibility to uphold the integrity of our nation's tax system, not exploit it for personal financial gain.

All six defendants face conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges, while the number of individual wire fraud counts varies.

Beverly faces 63 wire fraud counts, while Bowman, Green and Lovett each face 11.

Winston faces five counts and Benjamin faces four.

The indictment also includes a forfeiture notice seeking assets allegedly connected to the offenses, including financial judgments representing proceeds obtained by the defendants and 12 properties belonging to one or more of those charged.

The investigation was conducted through a partnership involving IRS Criminal Investigation, the FBI and federal prosecutors as part of the Justice Department's broader efforts to combat financial fraud.

The indictment announced this week is also not Winston's first encounter with federal fraud allegations.

As FOX10 News reported in September 2025, Winston was previously indicted in a separate federal case involving an alleged scheme to steal and cash more than $1 million in U.S. Treasury checks.

According to that indictment, Winston and co-defendant Xavier Henri Cade allegedly conspired between March and July 2024 to steal Treasury checks and forged identification documents sent through the mail, then use the information to fraudulently obtain money from a check-cashing business in Coden.

Winston pleaded not guilty in September 2025 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Federal prosecutors also sought forfeiture of nearly $1.4 million in that case, including a 2018 Porsche Panamera and $9,967 in cash.

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