(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE)
 
 

Lafayette, Louisiana . . .  United States Attorney Donald W. Washington announced today that a Bill of Information was filed against KENNETH W. DARNSTEADT, age 48, from Sulphur,  Louisiana, charging him with attempting to evade or defeat the payment of federal taxes.  DARNSTEADT is the Calcasieu Parish Tax Accessor.

This Bill of Information is filed as a result of investigations conducted by the Internal Revenue Service after an audit.  According to the Bill of Information, the IRS determined that in 1997 and 1998, DARNSTEADT filed false and fraudulent tax returns  in an attempt to avoid paying taxes that were owed to the United States. DARNSTEADT claimed a taxable income of $55,348 for 1996 and a taxable income of $63,787 for 1997. Investigations revealed that his actual income was $179,513 and $231,967 for 1996 and 1997, respectively.

If convicted, DARNSTEADT faces a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment, a $100,000 fine, or both.  Sentencing in federal court is governed by the United States Sentencing Guidelines.  Parole has been abolished in the federal system.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley.

For further information, please contact United States Attorney Donald W.  Washington at 337-262-6618 or First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Flanagan at 318-676-3600.

This and other press releases issued by the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana can be found at our website at  http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/law.

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