Minnesota Man Indicted in Alleged $350 Million Tax Refund Fraud Scheme
Published: February 16, 2026
PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA: A Minnesota man has been indicted in federal court on allegations that he filed and conspired to file false tax returns seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent refunds from the Internal Revenue Service.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, Caesar Munir Wilson made his initial appearance on Thursday, February 5, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis following a grand jury indictment charging him with:
Conspiracy to file false claims for tax refunds
Filing a false claim for a tax refund
Money laundering
Bank fraud
Wilson was released on an unsecured bond with conditions pending further proceedings in the case.
Alleged $350 Million Fraud Scheme
Federal prosecutors allege that between 2022 and 2023, Wilson submitted tax returns falsely requesting more than $90 million in refunds. He is also accused of conspiring to file additional fraudulent returns seeking more than $210 million in refunds. In total, authorities say the fraudulent claims exceeded $350 million. Of that amount, the United States Treasury allegedly paid out more than $19 million in undeserved refunds.
According to the indictment, Wilson used the proceeds of the alleged fraud to:
Purchase a $2.6 million home in Prior Lake
Invest in cryptocurrency and other ventures
Cover personal expenses
Alleged Sovereign Citizen Connections
Prosecutors further allege that Wilson advised a group of individuals identified as sovereign citizens on matters involving trusts and taxes. Sovereign citizen adherents generally assert that certain federal laws, including income tax laws, do not apply to them.
Authorities claim Wilson provided tax forms and documentation to group members to facilitate the filing of false returns as part of the broader conspiracy.
Federal Response
“Individuals who file false claims for tax refunds and who conspire with others to violate the laws of the United States must be held accountable for their criminal conduct,” said Daniel N. Rosen, United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota.
The case is being investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew D. Forbes and Matthew D. Evans are prosecuting the case.
Presumption of Innocence
An indictment is a formal charge and is not evidence of guilt. Wilson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, he could face significant federal prison time and financial penalties. Further court proceedings are expected in the coming months.
Written by: Will Wight
