United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

1100 Commerce St., 3rd Fl.
Dallas, Texas 75242-1699

Telephone (214) 659-8600
Fax (214) 767-0978

United States Attorney Richard H. Stephens announced today that a four-count indictment was returned today against Dallas resident, Billy Ray Newton, age 40, charging that he knowingly and willfully conspired to defraud the United States by filing false claims, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 287. If convicted on all counts, Billy Ray Newton faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a $1 million fine.

According to the indictment, Billy Ray Newton prepared, created, and caused to be filed false U.S. Individual Federal Income Tax Returns, Forms 1040, for 1996 and 1997. The indictment alleges that Newton filed four false federal tax returns, claiming approximately $17,890.00 in fraudulent tax refunds for these two years.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

The case was investigated by Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Dallas Field Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Bradford.

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