Georgia woman allegedly scams Ohio residents of millions

A Georgia woman was charged with wire fraud Tuesday for her role in an alleged tax scam operation worth millions.

Zinara Highsmith, 35, of Fayetteville, allegedly filed thousands of false tax returns, many in the name of almost 1,000 residents of northeast Ohio, including a pastor, according to ABC affiliate WEWS-TV.

The claims in the returns amounted to more than $4.8 million.

Highsmith founded a tax preparation business in Atlanta in 2010 and, starting the following year, worked on her scam with a minister in Arkansas, the station reported. The minister recruited new participants and gave personal information to Highsmith, who filed the fraudulent tax returns.

For more on the story, see WEWS-TV.