Federal Authorities Arraigned Roanoke Woman for Fraud
Jazmin Jennings faces six charges related to tax returns and pandemic-era relief program exploitation.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Financial Crime
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Federal authorities arraigned 38-year-old Jazmin Jennings on six fraud charges following a September 3 indictment. The charges stem from allegations that she submitted false tax returns and fraudulently obtained pandemic-era financial assistance.
Why it matters
The indictment highlights ongoing federal efforts to prosecute individuals who exploited pandemic relief programs. Authorities continue to uncover schemes involving false tax filings and fraudulent benefit claims that were initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jazmin Jennings faces six charges including making false tax returns and fraudulently obtaining money. The case is under investigation by the FBI and the IRS-Criminal Investigation division.
The players
Jazmin Jennings
She is a 38-year-old Roanoke resident currently facing federal fraud charges.
Jameika Austin
She is currently serving an 8-year prison sentence for submitting over 100 fraudulent loan applications.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The FBI is the primary federal law enforcement agency investigating potential violations of federal law.
IRS-Criminal Investigation
This division investigates potential criminal violations of the tax code and related financial crimes.
The details
Jennings allegedly underreported income and omitted her home healthcare business on tax filings for 2020, 2022, and 2023. Additionally, the indictment claims she exploited the Paycheck Protection Program and falsely claimed unemployment benefits.
Timeline
The false tax returns were submitted in 2020, 2022, and 2023.
Jazmin Jennings was indicted on September 3, 2026.
Jennings was formally arraigned on September 23, 2026.
Legal Context
The prosecution follows the pattern of fraud enforcement established by the CARES Act, which remains the primary reference for pandemic-era financial crimes. Federal authorities continue to target pandemic-related financial crimes years after the initial disbursement of relief funds.
This case underscores the persistent federal oversight of pandemic-era financial records and benefit claims. Residents should be aware that federal agencies maintain the authority to audit and investigate past tax filings and relief applications indefinitely.
The takeaway
Fraud cases involving pandemic-era relief programs are still being actively pursued by federal investigators years later. Individuals who misreported income or business status during the pandemic period remain subject to potential criminal scrutiny.
Further reading
Learn more about local investigations in Roanoke Financial Crime.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The United States Department of Justice.
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Do you believe current federal enforcement efforts are sufficient to prevent fraud in government benefit programs?
