PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

March 12, 2003

Jim Letten, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Special Agent in Charge Ken Kaiser, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Michael Nelson, Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Investigation Division, IRS, and Jennifer Broussard, Inspector in Charge, U. S. Postal Inspection Service, announced today that David Duke, age 52, was sentenced by United States District Judge Eldon E. Fallon to fifteen (15) months imprisonment and a fine of $10,000. On December 18, 2002, David Duke entered a plea of guilty to a two-count Bill of Information charging Duke with mail fraud and making a false statement on a federal income tax return. As part of the plea agreement with the Government, Duke returned to the United States and has agreed he will serve a fifteen month sentence, which is within the guideline range provided for by the United States Sentencing Guidelines for these federal crimes. Duke will self surrender to the institution designated by the U. S. Bureau of Prisons on April 15, 2003. Judge Fallon ordered David Duke to cooperate with the Internal Revenue Service to settle his civil tax obligation.

Letten said the Bill of Information alleged that Duke made a false statement on his 1998 federal income tax return when he understated his gross income for that year. The Bill of Information further alleged that Duke, beginning in 1993 and continuing through 1999, devised a scheme to bilk his supporters of money by issuing a series of solicitations through the United States mail. These mailings were based in part on misleading information concerning his financial status and his intended use of the money he sought. Duke admitted in United States District Court in New Orleans that he actually used large portions of the money he solicited for casino gaming.

The investigation was conducted by Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, United States Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the Financial Crimes Unit and First Assistant United States Attorney Jan Maselli Mann.