GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) — The final chapter in a Kingsport trio’s fraudulent scheme involving COVID-19 employment tax credits has come to a close with the sentencing of the last defendant. On Thursday, a federal judge handed down a 65-month prison sentence to Edward Zanes, 51, of Kingsport, followed by three years of supervised release, as reported by the U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
This sentencing marks the conclusion of a legal saga that has seen significant prison terms for all involved. Earlier in the year, co-defendant Ryan Glidewell, 53, also from Kingsport, received an 84-month prison sentence. Last year, Alyssa Glidewell, 36, was sentenced to 50 months behind bars.
The case revolved around a conspiracy to file fraudulent tax returns, exploiting the Employee Retention Credit and the Paid Sick and Family Leave Credit. These credits were designed as financial relief measures to support businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The defendants’ misuse of these programs highlights the challenges authorities face in safeguarding relief funds meant for those truly in need.