January 6, 2004

United States Attorney Mike Heavican and the Internal Revenue Service announce the following information for the attention of the media:

Event Triggering this Release: United States District Court Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Hollie LaPorte for her conviction for filing a false tax return. LaPorte was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of one year and one day to be followed by a term of supervised release of two years.

In 1997, LaPorte filed a tax return under the name of Hollie and David LaPorte in which she claimed a refund of $3,090. However, LaPorte had been divorced from David LaPorte for more than a year prior to filing the return and was not eligible to file a joint return. An accomplice signed David LaPorte's name and David LaPorte had no knowledge this return was being filed. The return itself was otherwise fraudulent in that a false W2 was attached which purported to show that Hollie LaPorte had income from an Omaha employer with federal income tax withheld when, in fact, Hollie LaPorte had not been employed at all and was not entitled to any refund whatsoever. During the course of the investigation, LaPorte admitted creating the false W2 in her name using information she had obtained from another person's legitimate W2.

The IRS detected the fraudulent nature of the return in sufficient time to prevent the issuance of any refund on the return. Nonetheless, "the signing and filing of a fraudulent tax return, which is signed under the penalties of perjury, is a serious tax violation," said Al Patton, Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation. "Our tax system treats this offense seriously since this act has the potential to increase the tax burden of the majority of our citizens that fully comply in meeting their tax obligations,"said Patton.

Name of Defendant: Hollie LaPorte

AKA:

DOB: 12/05/65

Last Known Non-Custodial Address of Defendant: 2254 Poppleton, Omaha, Nebraska

Crime(s) Charged and Potential Penalty (A CHARGE is merely an accusation and every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty): Filing a false return in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1).

Specific Location of Alleged Crime: Omaha, Nebraska

Location of Arrest: Omaha, Nebraska

Alleged Dollar Loss/Type and Quantity of Drug:

Others Charged in Same Scheme: Elwin Fender (now deceased)

Relevant Dates:

Date of Alleged Crime: March 10, 1997

Federal Arrest Date:

Date Complaint Issued:

Indictment Returned Date: March 20, 2003

Initial Appearance Date: April 11, 2003

Plea or Trial and Date(s): December 30, 2003

Sentencing Date: December 30, 2003

Next Court Hearing Type and Date:

Assigned Magistrate Judge: Honorable Thomas D. Thalken

Held without Bond, or Released from Custody: LaPorte was initially released on bond. However, she violated the conditions of her release and was arrested and detained on November 17, 2003.

In Continuous Custody Since: November 17, 2003

Assigned District Court Judge: Honorable Joseph F. Bataillon

Initials of Assigned AUSA/Preparer of THIS Release: DRS