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Local Tax Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion
A Louisiana woman was sentenced to prison for conspiring to defraud the United States and helping clients file false tax returns. Brittany Patterson, of St. John the Baptist Parish, pleaded guilty on November 14, 2019, to conspiracy to defraud the United States and aiding and assisting in the filing of false tax returns.
According to court documents, Patterson worked as a tax return preparer at Crown Tax Service LLC, owned by Michegel Butler. From January 2013 through April 2013, Patterson, Butler and others conspired to inflate their clients’ refunds by preparing tax returns claiming false Schedule C businesses, dependents and dependent care expenses.
As part of the scheme, Patterson and the other co-conspirators directed clients to fill out fraudulent receipts. They also encouraged some clients to buy or sell the personal identification information of dependents that could be falsely reported on tax returns.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier ordered Patterson to serve three years of supervised release and pay approximately $90,856 in restitution to the United States.
Butler, the owner of Crown Tax Service LLC, was previously sentenced to two years in prison for his role in the conspiracy on February 4, 2021.
Patterson was sentenced to one year and one day in prison for her crimes. Her prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release and a significant restitution payment.
The case was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Trial Attorney Jessica Kraft of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dall Kammer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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