Candies Goode-McCoy, a Nevada resident, has admitted to conspiring with others to file fraudulent claims for COVID-19-related employment tax credits, the U.S. Justice Department announced. The scheme involved submitting false tax returns for the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) and paid sick and family leave credits, which were part of the U.S. government’s pandemic response.
Between June 2022 and September 2023, Goode-McCoy filed 1,227 fraudulent tax returns, claiming over $98 million in refundable credits. The IRS disbursed approximately $33 million in refunds, of which Goode-McCoy personally received more than $1.3 million.
The DOJ stated that Goode-McCoy knew the claims were fraudulent and that neither she nor her clients were eligible for the refunds. She used the stolen funds for personal luxury purchases, including cars, vacations, and gambling.
Goode-McCoy is scheduled for sentencing on February 23, 2026. She faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for her actions.
