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Date: 02-11-2021

Case Style:

United States of America v. Morgan Antoine and Jennifer Austin

Case Number: 2:20-cr-00009-SSV-JVM

Judge: Sarah S. Vance

Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (Orleans Parish)

Plaintiff's Attorney: United States District Attorney’s Office

Defendant's Attorney:


Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory


Description: New Orleans, Louisiana tax fraud charge criminal defense lawyer represented Defendants, Morgan Antoine and Jennifer Austin, who were charged with conspiracy to commit tax fraud.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from January through April 2015, Morgan Antoine and Jennifer Austin conspired to file false tax returns for clients of Pelicans Income Tax and Payroll Service, a tax preparation business located in Kenner and Westwego, Louisiana. Antoine and Austin prepared client returns reporting false income and withholdings in order to generate larger tax refunds. In addition to preparing false returns for her clients, Antoine also filed a fraudulent personal return that claimed a false dependent. In total, Antoine and Austin caused a tax loss of more than $550,000.

At sentencing, Antoine and Austin each face a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Antoine and Austin also face a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg and U.S. Attorney Strasser commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys Jessica Kraft and William Montague of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter Guice, who are prosecuting the case.

18:371 CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE UNITED STATES
(1)
26:7206(2) AIDING AND ASSISTING IN PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF A FALSE TAX RETURN
(2-4)
18:1343 WIRE FRAUD
(16-18)
18:1028A AGGRAVATED IDENTITY THEFT
(19-21)

Outcome: 02/10/2021 57 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Sarah S. Vance: Rearraignment for Jennifer Austin (2) Count 1 held on 2/10/2021. Sentencing set for 5/26/2021 10:30 AM before Judge Sarah S. Vance. (Court Reporter Toni Tusa.) (mp) (Entered: 02/10/2021)
02/10/2021 58 Factual Basis by USA as to Jennifer Austin. (mp) (Entered: 02/10/2021)
02/10/2021 59 PLEA AGREEMENT by USA as to Jennifer Austin. (mp) (Additional attachment(s) added on 2/10/2021: # 1 Sealed Attachment A) (mp). (Entered: 02/10/2021)
02/10/2021 60 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Sarah S. Vance: Rearraignment via video conference for Morgan Antoine (1) Count 1 held on 2/10/2021. Sentencing set for 5/26/2021 10:30 AM before Judge Sarah S. Vance. (Court Reporter Toni Tusa.) (mp) (Entered: 02/10/2021)
02/10/2021 61 Factual Basis by USA as to Morgan Antoine. (mp) (Entered: 02/10/2021)
02/10/2021 62 PLEA AGREEMENT by USA as to Morgan Antoine. (mp) (Additional attachment(s) added on 2/10/2021: # 1 Sealed Attachment A) (mp). (Entered: 02/10/2021)

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