LAPLACE TAX PREPARER CHARGED WITH
OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE
SHONDRELL CAMPBELL, age 33, a resident of LaPlace, Louisiana, was charged in a twenty (20) count superseding indictment with conspiracy, aiding and assisting in making and subscribing false tax returns, tax obstruction, and obstruction of justice announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.
SHONDRELL CAMPBELL was originally indicted, along with her husband DEREK CAMPBELL in April 2011. On December 1, 2011, DEREK CAMPBELL pled guilty to two (2) counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. He is set for sentencing in March 2012.
SHONDRELL CAMPBELL is charged in the second superseding indictment with conspiring to aide in the preparation of false and fraudulent income tax returns and with corruptly obstructing the operation of the IRS. She is also charged in seventeen (17) substantive counts of preparing false and fraudulent tax returns. Several of the false items included in individual returns SHONDRELL CAMPBELL prepared, include claiming a first time home buyers credits of $7,500.00 when the taxpayer had not purchased a home. CAMPBELL was charged with obstruction of the IRS by using fraudulently obtained electronic filing identification numbers, known as an “EFIN” to file returns on the internet. Without and EFIN, a tax preparer cannot participate in filing returns on the internet. When SHONDRELL CAMPBELL’S EFIN was revoked by the IRS in 2005, SHONDRELL CAMPBELL fraudulently obtained EFIN’s in the names of family members in order to continue to file returns. Today’s superseding indictment charges that SHONDRELL CAMPBELL encouraged a witness to avoid service of a Grand Jury subpoena and avoid testifying in the Grand Jury in December 2011.
If convicted on the tax charges, SHONDRELL CAMPBELL faces a maximum term of imprisonment of three (3) years per count, a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and placement on a term of supervised release after imprisonment for a period of up to three (3) years. If convicted on the conspiracy charges, SHONDRELL CAMPBELL faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five (5) years, a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and placement on a term of supervised release after imprisonment for a period of up to three (3) years. She could also be ordered to pay restitution to the IRS. The obstruction of justice charge carries a five (5) year penalty.
U. S. Attorney Letten reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by agents of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorneys Carter K. D. Guice, Jr. and Jordan Ginsberg of the Financial and Computer Crime Unit.
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