TAX PREPARER CHARGED WITH FALSE CLAIMS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES
JATERA MITCHELL, age 27, of Laplace, Louisiana, was charged in a one count bill of information with filing false claims against the United States, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to the bill of information, MITCHELL was engaged in the business of preparing and filing income tax returns. The bill alleges that on approximately February 5, 2007, the defendant prepared and filed a fraudulent income tax return in the amount of $6,779.00 which contained false Schedule C income and expenses, false dependents, false education expenses, and false federal telephone excise tax credits.
MITCHELL faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five (5) years, a fine of $250,000.00 and three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
U. S. Attorney Letten reiterated that the bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney G. Dall Kammer.
(Download Bill of Information 
)
