A federal grand jury has indicted Fort Bend County Tax Assessor-Collector Carmen Patrice Turner, 65, of Richmond, on charges of conspiracy, theft concerning federal program funds, and wire fraud, the U.S. Department of Justice said. Also indicted were Shemerrylyn Regina Fields, 47, of Rosharon, and Victor Calvin Ewing, 69, of Houston, whom Turner allegedly hired as part of the scheme. An indictment is an allegation, not evidence, and all three are presumed innocent unless convicted.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Southern District of Texas
According to the indictment, Turner allegedly orchestrated a scheme from approximately September 2023 through September 2025 to use county payroll funds to pay individuals for work they did not perform. Prosecutors allege she hired Fields and another individual as deputy tax clerks but directed them to provide care for her elderly mother during regular county work hours, instructing them to clock in and out remotely through the county's telephone timekeeping system while falsely reporting they were performing official duties.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Southern District of Texas
The Chicago coordinator allegation
The indictment further alleges Turner hired Ewing as a full-time department coordinator despite allegedly knowing he already worked full-time for a company in Chicago and would not perform the county position's duties. Ewing allegedly received a county salary while continuing his Chicago employment and allegedly agreed to transfer a portion of his county payroll deposits to Turner, including in one instance through Cash App after a payroll payment, the Justice Department said. The Fort Bend Falcon reported the indictment says Ewing worked full-time as a materials specialist for an airline at Chicago O'Hare International Airport and cites an $800 Cash App transfer in February 2024.
Source: Fort Bend Falcon
Prosecutors also allege Turner used Ewing's credentials to access WebDealer, the vehicle-registration system used by county tax offices and the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, while Ewing was in Chicago — and in one transaction allegedly approved a vehicle cost of $295,836.92 instead of $29,583.92, causing a significant error in the sales tax automatically withdrawn from a dealership's bank account, according to the indictment.
Conspiracy, theft concerning federal program funds, and wire fraud • Alleged scheme: September 2023 – September 2025 • If convicted: up to 20 years per wire-fraud count, up to 10 years for theft, up to 5 years for conspiracy, plus fines up to $250,000 per charge • Indictment is an allegation; defendants are presumed innocent
Court appearances and investigation
Turner and Fields were expected to make initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray in Houston, while Ewing was arrested in Chicago and was expected to appear there, the Justice Department said. The FBI and the Texas Rangers conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Ferko and Rodolfo Ramirez are prosecuting the case. U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz said taxpayers deserve better, and FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Jason Hudson said public service is a privilege, not a right to break the law.
What is solid
- A federal grand jury indicted Carmen Patrice Turner, Shemerrylyn Regina Fields, and Victor Calvin Ewing on conspiracy, theft concerning federal program funds, and wire fraud charges, the Justice Department said.
- The FBI and Texas Rangers conducted the investigation.
- An indictment is a formal accusation, not evidence; the defendants are presumed innocent unless convicted.
What is only claimed
- Prosecutors allege the payroll scheme ran from September 2023 to September 2025 and paid people for work they did not perform — those allegations have not been proven in court.