Press Releases
NEW ORLEANS MAN SENTENCED FOR TAX FRAUD
March 12, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GERALD P. MERCADEL, JR., age 46, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced today by U. S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle to five (5) years probation which includes a six (6) month period of home detention with electronic monitoring, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,137.00 to the Internal Revenue Service, and a $100 special assessment.
GERALD P. MERCADEL, JR. previously pled guilty to aiding and abetting the filing of false individual income tax returns. According to the indictment, from April 2001 through May 2002, MERCADEL assisted taxpayers in preparing U. S. Individual Income Tax Returns, Forms 1040, along with accompanying Schedules relating to fictitious business losses which resulted in inflated federal income tax refunds to which the taxpayers were not entitled.
The case was investigated agents of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Irene González.
