(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE)
 
 

Lafayette, Louisiana . . .JOYCE HARRIS, age 33, of Maringouin, Louisiana, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Rebecca Doherty to 3 years supervised release for charges related to preparing fraudulent tax returns for others, announced United States Attorney Donald W. Washington.  Harris pled guilty to a Bill of Information in March 2004, for the federal charge of making a false claim to an agency of the United States.  HARRIS has already paid full restitution in the amount of $12,495.

During the years of 1997-2000, HARRIS prepared 1040 Federal Income Tax Returns which were fraudulent.  She prepared false and fraudulent W-2 Wage and Income Statements.  Further, in filling out the documents, HARRIS placed false and fraudulent information related to child tax credits.  In doing this, HARRIS insured the party listed on the 1040 Federal Income Tax Returns would obtain a refund to which they would not legally be entitled.  HARRIS would keep a portion of the fraudulently obtained money for herself, allowing the named party on the return to keep some ill-gotten gains.  As a result of this scheme, JOYCE HARRIS cheated the United States out of $12,495.

Sentencing in federal court is determined by the discretion of federal judges and the governing statute.  United States Sentencing Guidelines established by the United States Congress and the United States Sentencing Commission may only be used as guidelines by the judge.   Parole has been abolished in the federal system.

This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Luke Walker.

For further information, please contact United States Attorney Donald W. Washington at 337-262-6618 or First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Flanagan at 318-676-3600.

This and other press releases issued by the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana can be found at our website at www.usdoj.gov/usao/law.

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