TAMPA, Fla. — A federal judge has sentenced Clarence Christofer Ward, also known as Khaled Yaqud Mansur-El of Tennessee, to five years in prison for orchestrating a multimillion-dollar tax fraud and money laundering scheme.
U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber delivered the sentence following Ward’s conviction on charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and making false claims to the IRS.
The court also ordered Ward to forfeit $4,197,981.28, representing the total proceeds of the fraud. Additionally, the government will seize Ward’s four residential properties located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Federal investigators determined these homes were purchased using approximately $1,584,300 in illicit funds.
READ: Florida Man Gets Over Two Years For Threatening To Kill President Trump
The case stems from a fraudulent tax return filed in November 2020. According to trial evidence, Ward submitted a filing for a trust in his name, claiming the entity had paid more than $7 million in federal taxes for the 2019 calendar year. Based on this fabricated figure, Ward requested a $4.1 million refund.
IRS records later confirmed the trust had never paid any federal taxes. However, the agency issued the refund check before the discrepancy was identified. Upon receiving the funds, Ward purchased a luxury vehicle and the Tennessee real estate, while placing additional money into brokerage accounts.
Ward’s legal troubles began in earnest on April 30, 2024, when a federal grand jury returned an indictment against him. Following a two-day trial in September 2025, a jury found him guilty of one count of wire fraud, ten counts of money laundering, and one count of making a false claim.
READ: ‘Suicide By Cop’ Attempt Ends In Clearwater Shooting
“Ward may have been able to fool the IRS into releasing a tax refund through his bogus tax claims,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Florida Field Office. “However, tax fraud carries significant criminal penalties, and Ward was justifiably sentenced to prison for his crimes.”
The investigation was conducted by IRS-Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson. The asset forfeiture proceedings are being managed by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Harrington.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
