Louisiana Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison and Ordered to Pay Restitution For Bankruptcy Fraud and Tax Evasion
Lake Charles, Louisiana. – Louisiana man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution for bankruptcy fraud and tax evasion.
On April 26, 2023, United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Joseph Randall Boswell, Sr., 53, of Elizabeth, Louisiana, was sentenced yesterday for committing bankruptcy fraud and tax evasion. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. sentenced Boswell to 60 months (5 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Judge Cain ordered that a hearing be held on June 27, 2023, to determine restitution.
On April 24, 2022, a federal jury in Lake Charles, Louisiana convicted Boswell of these charges. The evidence presented at trial indicated that Boswell willfully and illegally concealed property from the United States Bankruptcy Trustee and his creditors through his Chapter 7 bankruptcy case in September 2011. Boswell, in particular, disguised funds made from nominee business and service contracts that could have been given to creditors. He attempted to deceive the government by hiding facts from the Bankruptcy Court about his true income and property in which he had an interest. The defendant was self-employed and omitted information from the court about enterprises he controlled through family members. These firms were formed in the name of other family members to conceal the fact that Boswell was directing and manipulating the commercial activities of these companies and making money through contracts negotiated by him.
Boswell was also found guilty of attempting to evade and prevent payment of income taxes owed by him from 2001 to 2009. He hid assets from the Internal Revenue Service by putting them in the names of other family members in order to avoid paying $597,00 in income taxes.
“This defendant spent years of his life finding ways to avoid paying taxes and creditors that he borrowed money from through his web of lies and deception,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “The agents and attorneys handling this case worked countless hours to untangle that web of lies that he wove, and I commend them for their tireless work in bringing him to justice. The bankruptcy and tax laws which have been established in this nation must be obeyed and we will continue to hold those who choose not to do that accountable.”
“Bankruptcy laws are in place to provide debtors a fresh start when they are honestly unable to pay their debts and obligations,” said James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Boswell used these laws to avoid paying his creditors and taxes although he had the resources. His sentence today should be a warning to those seeking to fraudulently use bankruptcy laws to avoid paying their creditors.”
The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the United States Trustee’s Office investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Cytheria D. Jernigan and Earl M. Campbell.