Louisiana used car dealer accused of tax fraud

A business owner in Louisiana has been accused of committing tax fraud. The man, who deals in used cars, was recently arrested and charged in a tax fraud scheme. Authorities said his scheme deprived Louisiana of sales tax revenue totaling tens of thousands of dollars.

Police said the man who owned LA Auto Sales, underreported dozens of automobiles’ sale prices. He is also said to have not remitted enough sales tax and kept the difference for himself. He is accused of defrauding Louisiana of about $20,000.

Besides allegedly engaging in tax fraud, the man, since 2003, has reportedly not completed a personal income tax filing for the state. He now faces a charge of theft. He also faces a penalty for not filing an income tax return and not accounting for tax monies.

The man’s charges related to his alleged tax fraud scheme have to be proved beyond a reasonable doubt before a conviction can happen. This standard exists in an effort to prevent innocent people from being convicted of crimes they did not commit and then sentenced for these crimes. The man may be given the opportunity to strike a plea deal with the prosecution, which might offer the advantage of reduced charges and/or a lighter sentence than what would be rendered at trial following a guilty verdict. However, he retains the right to vigorously fight the allegations at trial. The criminal defense will push for an outcome that is the most personally favorable for the client and will strive to ensure that all of his applicable rights are honored during all stages of the criminal proceedings.

Source: klfy.com, “Owner of LA Auto Sales arrested on tax fraud charges”, April 18, 2016