The U.S. government today began presenting its case against Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams, and his business partner Nicole Burdett. The two are charged with ten counts of tax fraud-related charges.
After introducing reams of documents as evidence, prosecutors called Henry Timothy, Williams' former tax preparer. Timothy has already pleaded guilty to tax crimes and agreed to cooperate as a government witness.
Williams has blamed Timothy for any fraudulent filings with the IRS, and he and Burdett claim they did not grant permission for it nor were they aware of it.
Under direct questioning, Timothy testified that he never presented himself as a certified public accountant to Williams and Burdett, and that they never asked to see his credentials. He testified that he falsified and inflated expenses on their tax returns, including claiming personal expenses as business expenses.
Timothy also testified it was not his idea to falsify and inflate expenses.
On cross-examination, defense got Timothy to agree that most clients expect their tax preparers to be trustworthy and allow them to rely on the tax preparer's expertise, not their own.
The defense's questioning of Timothy Henry will continue when the trial returns from recess Thursday morning.