Fort Worth, Texas - A Tarrant County jury has convicted four family members of participating in a scheme that fraudulently sought over $8.5 million in tax refunds from the IRS, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould and the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division.
The defendants convicted were:
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David Hunt, of Arlington, Texas
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Brandon Hunt, of Arlington, Texas (twin son of David Hunt)
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Baylon Hunt, of Arlington, Texas (twin son of David Hunt)
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Corey Burt, formerly of Long Beach, Mississippi (half-brother to the twins)
The Scheme and Charges
According to court documents, the four individuals orchestrated a scheme to file false tax returns in the names of purported trusts they controlled. They collectively received over $1.7 million from the IRS based on these false returns.
The defendants shared the proceeds of the fraud, using the money to purchase luxury goods, furniture, cryptocurrency, a Cadillac Escalade, and a house in Mississippi. They continued filing false returns and documents, including falsified financial instruments and altered money orders, even after receiving warning letters from the IRS.
All four defendants were convicted of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Additionally:
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David Hunt, Brandon Hunt, and Corey Burt were convicted of multiple counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns.
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Baylon Hunt was acquitted of two counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns.
Sentencing and Investigation
The defendants face up to five years in federal prison for the conspiracy charge and up to three years for each false tax return charge, along with monetary penalties, restitution, and supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for March 26, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman.
The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, which was instrumental in locating and arresting three of the defendants who fled mid-trial.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould stated that the verdict "rightly held all four defendants accountable for their roles in the criminal conduct." Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus Jr. of IRS Criminal Investigation warned that "frivolous tax arguments have no merit and will not shield anyone from prosecution."
