Fort Bend County Tax Assessor-Collector Carmen Turner and two other defendants were arrested Thursday on federal charges in a case alleging they used county payroll funds to pay employees for work they did not perform, including caring for Turner’s mother, according to federal prosecutors.
U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz announced the arrests during a Thursday news conference with FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Jason Hudson, Texas Department of Public Safety Lt. Eric Burse and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Furko.
Turner, 65, and the other defendants, Shemerrylyn Regina Fields, 47, and Victor Calvin Ewing, 69, face charges including conspiracy, theft involving government funds and wire fraud, according to a federal indictment filed in the Southern District of Texas.
Prosecutors allege the scheme ran from September 2023 through September 2025 and involved county employees who collected paychecks while allegedly failing to perform their assigned duties.
Reitz said investigators estimate the alleged misuse of funds could total tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. He said the exact amount has not been determined and will be addressed as the case proceeds.
“Carmen Turner has been strutting around Fort Bend County with the title The Honorable for years. Nothing could be more dis-honorable—or illegal—than her and her conspirators’ public corruption,” said U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz. “The people of the Southern District of Texas have my commitment to do everything we can to do justice and make it right. Taxpayers deserve so much better.”
According to the indictment, Turner hired Fields as a deputy tax clerk in March 2024. Prosecutors allege Fields instead worked as a full-time caregiver for Turner’s mother at her Houston apartment while being paid through the county payroll system.
Reitz confirmed during the news conference that Fields did provide care for Turner’s mother. However, prosecutors allege Fields was hired and paid as a tax office employee and was instructed not to perform those county duties.
The indictment also alleges Turner hired Ewing, the father of her adult son, as a department coordinator in October 2023, despite Ewing already working full time for an airline company at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
Prosecutors allege Ewing collected Fort Bend County paychecks while working in Chicago and transferred portions of his county pay to Turner. The indictment cites an alleged $800 Cash App payment from Ewing to Turner in February 2024.
Reitz said the amounts allegedly transferred varied, and prosecutors did not identify a single agreed-upon amount for the alleged kickback arrangement.
The indictment also alleges Fields and Ewing were instructed to clock in and out remotely and report work hours they had not performed for the tax office.
Reitz said the investigation developed over several years through tips, information from people with internal knowledge and investigative work.
The FBI worked with the Texas Rangers and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the investigation, Hudson said.
Hudson described public corruption investigations as complex cases that can take time to develop. He encouraged anyone with information about suspected public corruption to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov .
During the news conference, Reitz also referenced Turner’s previous indictment and conviction more than a decade ago, saying those matters were unrelated to the current case.
Reitz declined to provide a specific timeline for when the current investigation began.
Turner and Fields were arrested in the Houston area, while Ewing was arrested in Chicago, according to Reitz. He said Turner and Fields were scheduled to make their initial appearances before a federal magistrate judge Thursday afternoon.
Reitz said prosecutors are prepared to take the case to trial. He also said investigators would not speculate about whether additional people could face charges, although the investigation could continue as the case proceeds.
The indictment includes nine counts against the defendants, with charges varying by person. Prosecutors allege conspiracy, theft involving a government program receiving federal funds and wire fraud.
KPRC 2 will update this story with additional details from the U.S. attorney’s announcement.
