Louisiana Business Owner Charged with Tax Crimes After Allegedly Collecting Taxes From Employees and Not Sending them to the IRS

New Orleans, Louisiana – On Wednesday, November 30, 2022, United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Rene Clement (“Clement”), age 75, of Houma, Louisiana, was charged with failing to account for and pay federal income taxes and Federal Insurance Contributions Act (“FICA”) taxes, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7202.

According to court filings, Clement operated a company called Vinyl Products, LLC. During the fourth quarter of 2017, Clement collected about $28,809.73 in federal income taxes and FICA taxes from his employees but did not account for or pay any of that money to the Internal Revenue Service.

Clement faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison if convicted. Clement faces a period of supervised release of up to three years, as well as a fine of $10,000 or the greater of twice the defendant's gross gain or twice the defendant's gross loss to any person under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571. A special assessment fee of $100 is also required.

U.S. Attorney Evans 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 United States Attorney's Office wishes to thank the Internal Revenue Service for its assistance in this issue. Assistant United States Attorney Maria Carboni is in charge of the prosecution in this case.