Jennifer Brunenkant, the founder and former owner of Herbal Alternatives II, LLC, a marijuana dispensary in Washington D.C., has pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion charges. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter from the IRS Criminal Investigation’s Washington D.C. Office.
Brunenkant admitted guilt before U.S. District Court Judge Loren L. AliKhan for attempting to evade or defeat tax obligations. Her sentencing is scheduled for November 20, 2025, where Judge AliKhan will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines along with other statutory factors.
According to her plea, between 2017 and 2021, Brunenkant failed to pay federal income and employment taxes linked to her earnings from Herbal Alternatives II and her employees' wages. She falsely claimed on her Unincorporated Business Franchise Tax Forms that she had filed her federal income tax returns when she had not done so. During a July 2023 interview with law enforcement, she continued to assert that she had filed these returns.
The government intends to seek restitution exceeding $1.2 million at Brunenkant's sentencing hearing for unpaid federal taxes.
The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Kelly.