Former Motel Owner, Anil Patel, Guilty Of Tax Fraud

ANIL PATEL, age 46, formerly a resident of Metairie, Louisiana, pled guilty in federal court today before U.S. District Court Judge Sarah S. Vance to tax fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Dana Boente.

According to court documents, on August 6, 2009, PATEL signed and filed a 2008 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return (Form 1040) with the Internal Revenue Service.  That tax return did not report approximately $426,744 in income, which resulted in $111,378 in tax due and owing to the Internal Revenue Service.

PATEL was the former owner of the Trade Winds and La Village motels that were located on Airline Drive in Metairie, Louisiana.  As part of his plea agreement, PATEL agreed to accept responsibility for failing to report $1,373,076 in total unreported income for the tax years 2006 - 2009.  As a result, the tax due and owing to the IRS for those years is $393,048.  PATEL also previously agreed to pay taxes due and owing to both the parish and state.

Sentencing is set for December 11, 2013 at 9:30 am.  PATEL faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 3 years, as well as a fine of $250,000 and 1 year of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service, detectives of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Maestri.

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