On Friday, August 9, 2013, a Fulton County Grand Jury indicted Derrell Jackson and Shayla Darrington-Jackson for two counts of Income Tax Evasion (O.C.G.A. § 48-7-5). The Jacksons are also facing charges in Gwinnett County for Medicaid Fraud for allegedly obtaining over $600,000 of Medicaid funds by submitting false billing to the Georgia Medicaid program over the course of three years.

According to the Gwinnett County Medicaid Fraud indictment, their company, Project Focus, LLC, was enrolled in the Georgia Medicaid program to provide in-home mental health counseling to youths diagnosed with severe behavioral disorders. The State’s investigation determined that they received Medicaid billing payments in 2008 and in 2009. The Fulton County indictment charges that they have not filed state tax returns or paid state income taxes owed for the income they earned from Medicaid billing during those years.

Income Tax Evasion is punishable by one to five years imprisonment and a fine of up to $100,000 for each count.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Greg Lohmeier. Nora Benavidez and Lohmeier presented the case to the Fulton County Grand Jury. The case was investigated by Douglas Legg of the Georgia Department of Revenue.

Members of the public should keep in mind that indictments contain only allegations against the individual(s) against whom the indictment is sought. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and it will be the government’s burden at trial to prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the allegations contained in the indictment.