INDIANAPOLIS (WISH)— A 60-year-old Pendleton woman is facing federal charges after prosecutors say she used false childcare attendance records and fraudulent food claims to obtain more than $359,000 in government funds.

Sharon Jackson has been charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of failure to file an individual income tax return. According to federal court documents, Jackson has agreed to plead guilty to both charges but had not formally entered her plea in federal court as of the filing.

The charges are part of the Trump administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a federal effort focused on fraud, waste and abuse involving government benefit programs.

Federal prosecutors say Jackson operated three childcare facilities in Indianapolis at various times between 2017 and 2024: Precious Hearts of Solid Rock, Greater St. Mark Five Star Ministry and Little Angels of Precious Hearts.

Court documents state that Jackson obtained money through two government programs — the Child Care and Development Fund, known as CCDF, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program, or CACFP.

The CCDF program provides childcare assistance to eligible low-income families while parents work, attend training or pursue education. CACFP reimburses participating childcare providers for eligible food expenses for children enrolled in their programs.

False attendance records

Prosecutors say Jackson reported children as attending Little Angels on dates and times when the children were not at the facility.

Court documents say she used Hoosier Works Child Care cards assigned to parents to record children as being signed in and out of the facility. Jackson also submitted attendance information through a telephone system, entering information that included CCDF voucher numbers, ZIP codes and attendance details.

Federal authorities say childcare providers are not permitted to possess Hoosier Works Child Care cards or other information that would allow them to record a child’s attendance.

Prosecutors say Jackson also reached agreements with several parents to report that their children attended Little Angels when they did not. In return, Jackson paid the parents a portion of the CCDF money she received.

Court documents state that payments were made through Cash App or by leaving cash in the gutters outside the childcare facility for parents to collect.

Prosecutors say Jackson received approximately $359,083.60 in CCDF funds to which she was not entitled.

Food program claims

Jackson also faces charges tied to the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

According to court documents, Jackson submitted claims for reimbursement for meals that were not provided to children at her childcare facilities.

Prosecutors say she created invoices from food vendors showing purchases of food that was never provided and used those records to obtain additional CACFP funds.

Unfiled tax returns

Jackson is also charged with failing to file federal individual income tax returns for 2018 and for 2020 through 2023.

Court documents state that she had not filed returns for 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 or 2023 as of the date of the filing.

Prosecutors estimate Jackson owed approximately $287,381.79 in federal taxes for those years.

The investigation involves the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS Criminal Investigation and the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration.

Jackson is scheduled to make her initial appearance in federal court on September 10, 2026.

U.S. Attorney Jeremy C. Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Eakman and Meredith Wood for prosecuting the case.

The Department of Justice announced in April the creation of its National Fraud Enforcement Division, which investigates and prosecutes fraud against the American people. The department said the division’s work supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance, which focuses on eliminating fraud, waste and abuse within federal benefit programs.

Jackson has agreed to plead guilty, but her plea must still be formally entered and accepted by the federal court.