Former State Representative, Girod Jackson, Pleads Guilty To Federal Tax Violations

Former Louisiana State Representative GIROD JACKSON, 41, pleaded guilty today in federal court before U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to a three count Bill of Information, which charged him with violating provisions of the United States Tax Code, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr.  Specifically, JACKSON admitted his guilt to one count of Making a Fraudulent Statement on a Tax Return, a felony, and two counts of Willful Failure to File Tax Returns, misdemeanors.  

According to court documents, JACKSON, who represented District 87, an area that includes portions of the West Bank of Jefferson Parish, admitted that he misrepresented on his federal tax return for 2006 the total income received by his company, Diversified Ventures, LLC.  In 2007 and 2008, despite having earned sufficient income from Diversified Ventures and other sources and having filed requests for extensions of time to file his tax returns, JACKSON admitted that he failed to file any returns at all. JACKSON was elected to office in 2007 and served his first full year as State Representative for District 87 in 2008.

Upon sentencing, which is set for January 9, 2014, JACKSON faces the possibility of up to three years in prison and a $100,000 fine for Count 1 and up to one year in prison and a $25,000 fine for Counts 2 and 3. 

The investigation was led by the Internal Revenue Service.  Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Friel is prosecuting this case.

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