DALLAS — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment against a North Texas resident for allegedly defrauding pandemic relief programs of more than $680,000.
April Watson, 50, also known as “April Watson Horton” and “April Shawnette Watson,” is charged with four counts of wire fraud, two counts of bank fraud, and four counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity (money laundering).
“Emergency relief programs were enacted as a vital lifeline to keep struggling businesses afloat during the pandemic—not to subsidize private home construction and luxury purchases,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Falsifying tax records and treating emergency small business relief like a personal lottery ticket is a serious federal crime that leaves Main…
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