Ricardo Karns, a tax preparer from Palm Beach County, Florida, has been arrested on multiple felony charges after allegedly defrauding 21 victims, including 19 elderly individuals. Karns, the owner of Karns Taxes & Investments, is accused of using his business as a platform to steal personal information from unsuspecting clients. The victims, aged between 65 and 81, had their details used to open credit card accounts without their knowledge, with their addresses being changed to intercept the cards.
The fraudulent activities were uncovered following a complaint in October 2021, leading to an investigation. Authorities discovered that Karns had charged thousands of dollars to the victims’ accounts, funneling the money into his own business and laundering it through various transactions. The amounts stolen from victims ranged from just under $5,000 to over $18,000.
The investigation linked Karns to the scheme through IP addresses, email addresses, and financial records. He has been charged with several counts, including organized scheme to defraud, money laundering, criminal use of personal identification information, and grand theft, particularly from victims aged 65 and older. His associates, Ainsley Grant and Quenteria Jennings, are also connected to the fraudulent activities.
Karns faces serious legal consequences for his actions, and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has vowed to hold him accountable. He was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on November 21, 2024, and is awaiting further legal proceedings.
