Executive Summary
- Clarence Christofer Ward, also known as Khaled Yaqud Mansur-El, was found guilty by a federal jury in Florida of wire fraud, ten counts of money laundering, and one count of making a false claim to the IRS.
- Ward fraudulently obtained a $4.1 million tax refund from the IRS in November 2020 by falsely claiming a Trust in his name had paid over $7 million in federal taxes, despite IRS records indicating no such payments.
- Ward misappropriated the illicit funds to acquire four residential properties, a luxury automobile, fund vacations, and invest in brokerage accounts; he now faces a maximum potential sentence of 125 years in federal prison, and the purchased properties are subject to forfeiture.
Laws and Precedent
- Clarence Christofer Ward was convicted on federal charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and making a false claim to the IRS, which are statutes designed to prosecute individuals who use electronic communications for fraudulent schemes, conceal illicitly obtained funds, and defraud federal agencies. The verdict also includes the forfeiture of assets, a legal process allowing the government to seize property acquired through criminal activities, underscoring the severe penalties for such financial crimes.
Ocala, Florida – A federal jury in Florida has found Clarence Christofer Ward, also known as Khaled Yaqud Mansur-El, guilty of one count of wire fraud, ten counts of money laundering, and one count of making a false claim to the IRS. The verdict, announced on Monday, September 29, 2025, follows Ward’s scheme to fraudulently obtain a $4.1 million tax refund from the Internal Revenue Service by falsely claiming a Trust had paid over $7 million in taxes.
Details of the Fraud Scheme
According to evidence presented at trial, Ward electronically filed a fraudulent tax return in November 2020 on behalf of a Trust in his name. He falsely asserted that the Trust had paid more than $7 million in federal taxes during 2019 and subsequently requested a refund of $4.1 million.
Despite IRS records clearly indicating that the Trust had never paid any federal taxes, the agency inadvertently issued the substantial refund. Ward promptly misappropriated these funds, using them to acquire four residential properties, a luxury automobile, fund various vacations, and invest in brokerage accounts.
Legal Proceedings and Penalties
The federal jury also determined that the residential properties purchased with the illicit gains are subject to forfeiture to the United States government. Ward now faces a maximum potential sentence of 125 years in federal prison for his crimes.
A sentencing date for Ward has not yet been scheduled. The case was thoroughly investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
Upholding Financial Integrity
This conviction underscores the U.S. Department of Justice’s commitment to pursuing individuals who attempt to defraud federal agencies and misuse taxpayer funds. The swift action to identify and prosecute such financial crimes helps protect the integrity of the nation’s tax system and ensures accountability for fraudulent activities.
