Press Releases
HAMMOND MAN SENTENCED TO 15 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR TAX FRAUD - SUBMISSION OF FALSE CLAIMS
November 20, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ALVIN GAUTREAUX, JR., age 58, a resident of Hammond, Louisiana, was sentenced by U. S. District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt to fifteen (15) months imprisonment for submission of false claims to the United States in relation to his tax returns, announced U. S Attorney Jim Letten. In addition to the prison term, Judge Engelhardt imposed three (3) years of supervised release following the term of imprisonment during which time the defendant will be under federal supervision and risks an additional term of confinement should he violate any terms of his supervised release. In addition GAUTREAUX was ordered to pay $73,565.00 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
According to the evidence, in his 2003 tax return which he submitted to the Internal Revenue Service, GAUTREAUX claimed he had overpaid in taxes withholdings and as such, was entitled to a refund by the IRS. GAUTREAUX also admitted that he prepared a false W-2 form which was submitted to the IRS.
Speaking to today’s procedure, Michael J. De Palma, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation stated:
"We are pleased with today's sentence. An integral part of IRS Criminal Investigation's mission is to detect and catch fraudulent tax refund schemes. IRS Special Agents will continue to work diligently to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in this criminal activity."
After sentencing, GAUTREAUX was allowed to self surrender to the Bureau of Prisons by January 12, 2009 in lieu of being remanded into the custody of the United States Marshal’s Service to begin his term of imprisonment.
This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Juan M. Masini.
