Richard Johnson Jr. pleads guilty to filing a false tax return

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Richard Z. Johnson Jr. pleaded guilty to filing a false federal income tax return.

Johnson, 58, of Mansfield, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to a one count bill of information charging him with making or subscribing a false tax return. According to the guilty plea, Johnson reported a total income of $126,197 on his 2011 U.S. individual tax return but willfully failed to report additional income in the amount of $78,717.

Johnson faces up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and restitution of taxes owed to the U.S. Treasury. A sentencing date of February 17, 2016 was set.

The IRS conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys William J. Flanagan and Seth D. Reeg are prosecuting the case.