🇺🇸 - Five current and former IRS employees have been charged in a scheme to fraudulently collect COVID-19 aid.
According to court documents, the defendants tried to obtain a total of USD 1 million by submitting false applications.
According to the Department of Justice, the defendants used the money for cars, luxury goods and personal travel. Brian Saulsberry of Memphis obtained USD 171 400 and is accused of buying a Mercedes and cushioning a personal investment account.
Tina Humes, also of Memphis, received USD 123 612 according to the DOJ, and is accused of using it to buy jewelry and go on a trip to Las Vegas.
This is part of a larger effort to crack down on COVID-19 fraud schemes that has led to 150 prosecutions and the seizure of USD 75 million dollars.
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🌆 Market News Digest
[Jun 20, 2026 06:00-16:30 EST]
🔥 Top Stories
• Hormuz shock risk vs. reality — Iran/IRGC declared the Strait “closed,” but U.S. and shipping reports said traffic kept flowing, limiting immediate oil-market disruption.
• U.S.-Iran talks move to Switzerland — Witkoff, Kushner, and Vance headed to Bürgenstock/Geneva with Pakistan/Qatar mediation; markets are watching for a de-escalation path.
• Israel-Lebanon escalation intensifies — Heavy Israeli strikes and Hezbollah rocket fire continued, with ceasefire claims, battlefield losses, and U.S. pressure to contain the fighting.
⛽ Oil & Energy
• Hormuz closure threat — Any genuine disruption would hit global crude/LNG flows fast, but U.S. forces said vessels continued transiting the strait.
• Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant outage — ZNPP lost off-site power again before being reconnected; recurring grid risk keeps nuclear safety elevated.
📊 Markets & Macro
• Tariff-like Hormuz fees floated by Trump ...