A jury finds Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams not guilty on all ten counts of federal tax-related fraud.
On Thursday, the jury handed up the not guilty verdict.
“Anyone who is wrongfully accused is angry,… but you got to move on,” Williams’ Defense Attorney Lisa Monet Wayne told reporters outside the federal courthouse. “So, this is complete vindication, exoneration, you all heard the evidence, those of you in the courtroom… he needs to move on and he will do that.”
When asked by reporters why they did not put up a defense, Wayne said “Why do you put on a defense if you haven’t put on a case.”
Williams’ private law partner and co-defendant in the case, Nicole Burdett, was found guilty on four separate counts of falsifying her taxes.
“The City of New Orleans appreciates the thoughtfulness and consideration the women and men of the jury gave to this case,” said New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “We are grateful for their service to our city. With this verdict on a personal matter now rendered, the City looks forward to the District Attorney returning his focus to the residents of the City of New Orleans and their public safety.”
The government accused Williams and his business partner, Nicole Burdett, of conspiring to hide income from the IRS to avoid paying taxes.
Both defendants argued they were the victims of an unscrupulous tax preparer. They claim that tax preparer, Henry Timothy, lied to them about being a certified public accountant and acted without their knowledge or approval.
Timothy pleaded guilty and cooperated with prosecutors.
Timothy was the tax preparer for Williams and Williams' business partner Nicole Burdett from 2010 through 2017. He testified for the government that he falsified and inflated expenses on their tax returns, including claiming personal expenses as business expenses.
Related
Related
Timothy testified he "felt pressure" from Williams and Burdett to fudge the numbers.
Under cross examination, Timothy testified that most clients expect their tax preparers to be trustworthy and allow them to rely on the tax preparer's expertise, not their own.
He also acknowledged that at one point, his letterhead referred to him as a certified public accountant, even though he is not. Timothy testified that it was a mistake.
Prosecutors also presented testimony from IRS Agent Time Moore. Moore started investigating Williams in 2018. On the witness stand, prosecutors had Moore walk the jury through Williams' tax records, explaining what the tax agency believes are fraudulent deductions.
The government highlighted $5,000 in professional fees that Williams deducted from his 2013 taxes. Moore says those were actually checks written to Williams' mother, who did not provide legal services.
In all, Moore said Williams' improperly deducted $700,000 worth of expenses.
During the defense's cross examination of Moore, Williams' lawyer Billy Gibbens argued that this was another example of Timothy taking expenses and improperly deducting them without Williams' knowledge. Moore testified the ultimate responsibility is on Williams, because they are his taxes.
Jurors also heard from a Tulane University official who showed transcripts of Williams' second year of law school in 1996. They included a course on income tax law, with a grade of C.
Prosecutors also called Kevin Conley, the current financial advisor to Williams and Burdett. Conley testified he warned them in 2018 to use a different tax preparer, after learning Timothy was not a CPA.