8 Robeson Co. women pled guilty to tax fraud scheme based on COVID tax credits, feds say

ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. (WPDE) — A Robeson County woman, who owned a tax return preparation business has pled guilty to conspiring to prepare false returns claiming fraudulent refunds based on COVID-19 tax credits, and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The release said Nejlai Mitchell, 48, faces a maximum term of eight years in prison, and a $500,000 fine when sentenced later this year.

Mitchell will also be ordered to pay a Forfeiture Money Judgment of nearly $14 million.

Seven other tax return preparers have already pleaded guilty for their roles in the same fraud scheme.

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According to court documents and statements made in court, Mitchell owned and operated a tax return preparation business out of Lumberton and Hope Mill.

The…

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THE TUTUKA POWER STATION PROCUREMENT FRAUD (ESKOM)

Date: August 29, 2025 Perpetrator: Jessie Phindile Kubheka (Supplier Director)

Case Description: As part of the ongoing “cleaning up” of Eskom, Jessie Phindile Kubheka was sentenced to 12 years (with 5 years suspended) for defrauding the Tutuka Power Station. The case involved a sophisticated procurement syndicate that exploited Eskom’s emergency repair protocols. Kubheka’s company was contracted to deliver three high-specification containers for the power station. Only one container was ever delivered, and even that single unit failed to meet the required safety and technical specifications.

Despite the lack of delivery, Kubheka issued grossly inflated invoices, defrauding the utility of approximately R2.6 million. The Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court ordered Kubheka to repay the full amount. This case is significant because it marks a shift in Eskom’s strategy toward “naming and shaming” suppliers and pursuing full asset recovery. It serves as a stark warning to contractors that the 2026 climate of “Zero Tolerance” for state-owned enterprise (SOE) fraud is backed by active judicial enforcement.

Link to Original: Eskom Official – Tutuka Fraud Sentencing