The federal government says a man has been locked up in a Louisiana jail cell because he committed tax fraud. It’s a complicated situation that involves the man’s parents and his girlfriends as well. A tax revenue official told reporters the agency is unsure if the man has secured criminal defense representation to help him try to avoid conviction.
The man was reportedly incarcerated in 2011 and has been behind bars ever since. His day of freedom finally arrived and he was released, only to be arrested that same day on tax refund theft charges. Authorities claim the man conducted a fraud scheme while in jail that brought him more than $170,000 in tax refunds, which he supposedly stashed in various locations.
The man is accused of tricking his parents into thinking he was an investor in a business they own. Authorities say the money sent to them was actually tax refund money their son had filed for from prison. Investigators say the man’s girlfriends sent him tax forms then mailed them for him after he filled them out.
It would make sense for someone to retain experienced and aggressive criminal defense assistance when facing tax fraud charges in Louisiana or elsewhere. Although a person can go it alone in court if he or she so chooses, a positive outcome is often more likely if an experienced defense attorney acts on a defendant’s behalf. Penalties for tax fraud convictions can include jail time as well as hefty fines, so maximizing one’s chances for a favorable court decision is always a good idea.
Source: U.S. News & World Report, “Inmate Accused of Getting Bogus Tax Refunds From Behind Bars“, Michael Kunzelman, March 20, 2018
