False Tax Return Scheme Sends Louisiana Woman to Prison

Louisiana – On July 13, 2022, the Department of Justice announced that a Louisiana woman was sentenced on July 12 to 40 months (3 years, 4 months) in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States.

Carlanda Isaac, of New Orleans, Louisiana, worked for Pelican Income Tax and Bookkeeping Services LLC, and then for Taxes by J.A.D.A., another tax preparation firm, according to court documents. Isaac and others attempted to inflate tax refunds for clients by claiming false income, withholding, and education credits on their returns. Isaac charged a fee to her clients for preparing false tax returns.

In addition to the prison term, US District Judge Greg G. Guidry ordered Isaac to serve three years of supervised release and pay the U.S. $283,378 in restitution.

The announcement was made by Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

The case was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Jessica Kraft of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter Guice of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.