Federal prosecutors announced indictments against Fort Bend County Tax Assessor-Collector Carmen Turner and two others for theft of government funds, wire fraud, and conspiracy. Prosecutors alleged Turner hired two people as deputy tax clerks who actually cared for her elderly mother, and hired another person employed elsewhere to work in her office. All three defendants face decades in prison if convicted.
Carmen Patrice TurnerFort Bend County Tax Assessor-Collector
Shermerrylyn Regina FieldsDeputy tax clerk, indicted
Victor Calvin EwingPerson hired to work in tax office, arrested
Aaron ReitzU.S. Attorney
Federal Bureau of InvestigationInvestigating agency
Texas Department of Public SafetyInvestigating agency
The facts
Turner has served as Fort Bend County Tax Assessor-Collector since 2021.234Stated by 3 sources
Turner was arrested Thursday morning.234Stated by 3 sources
Shermerrylyn Regina Fields was indicted Thursday.234Stated by 3 sources
Victor Calvin Ewing was arrested Thursday.234Stated by 3 sources
Turner's term as Tax Assessor-Collector ends in 2028.234Stated by 3 sources
In 2017, federal prosecutors dismissed most charges against Turner after she pleaded guilty to contempt of court and was sentenced to one year of probation.234Stated by 3 sources
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Aaron Reitz, U.S. Attorney Turner conspired with others to steal thousands of dollars from programs that receive federal funds.234
Federal prosecutors Two people Turner hired as deputy tax clerks were actually working to care for her elderly mother.234
Federal prosecutors Turner hired Victor Calvin Ewing despite him being employed by an airline company, and Ewing transferred a portion of his Fort Bend income to her.234
Federal prosecutors Fields and Ewing clocked in logging fake work under Turner's knowledge and direction.234
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
Fort Bend County judge to address 'cloud of corruption' resulting in federal charges against tax assessor-collector
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
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