Michegel Butler, Filing False IRS Returns, Louisiana 2023

Two St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, residents have been accused of a brazen scheme to defraud the United States by preparing and filing false tax returns. Michegel Butler, the alleged owner of Crown Tax Service in Kenner, Louisiana, and Brittany Riquel Patterson, a return preparer at Crown, were arrested and charged with conspiring to defraud the United States and aiding and assisting in the preparation of fraudulent tax returns.

According to the indictment, Butler and Patterson prepared false tax returns in 2013 for clients of Crown Tax Service. The scheme involved falsifying returns by including fraudulent business income and expenses, dependents, and dependent care expenses. The indictment charges that the defendants sought to substantiate these false items by having clients sign blank declarations of business income and expenses, and false receipts.

The indictment also alleges that some clients were encouraged to buy or sell the personal identification information of others to facilitate the false reporting of dependents on returns. This scheme highlights the growing concern of identity theft and tax-related crimes.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Butler and Patterson face a maximum sentence of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge, and three years for each count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a fraudulent tax return.

They also face substantial monetary penalties, supervised release, and restitution. The case was investigated by special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dall Kammer and Trial Attorney Lauren Castaldi.

The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Peter G. Strasser, commended the efforts of the investigative team and prosecutors in bringing this case to light. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in tax preparation services.

The indictment charges Michegel Butler and Brittany Riquel Patterson with the following crimes:

Conspiring to defraud the United States

Aiding and assisting in the preparation of fraudulent tax returns

The case is ongoing and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Mandatory facts:

Defendant: Michegel Butler and Brittany Riquel Patterson

Criminal charges: Conspiring to defraud the United States and aiding and assisting in the preparation of fraudulent tax returns

City and state: St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana

Exact date: Not specified

Sentence or outcome: Ongoing case

Dollar amounts: Not applicable

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/two-louisiana-tax-preparers-charged-filing-false-irs-returns