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NEW ORLEANS – KENISHA R. CALLAHAN, age 44, and a resident of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, was charged by bill of information on March 25, 2022, by the U.S. Attorney for filing a false tax return, aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return and making a false statement to the Department of Education, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans .

As charged in the bill of information, count one alleges that CALLAHAN, the owner of Callahan Tax Service, prepared and filed a false 2015 U.S. Individual Tax Return Form 1040, wherein she underreported her earned income for the alleged time period. Count two alleges that in 2015, CALLAHAN aided in the preparation and filing of a client’s tax return that falsely stated to the IRS that the client owned a business and that the client had a business loss for the 2014 tax year. Count three alleges that CALLAHAN committed financial aid fraud by falsely reporting the amount of income that she earned in 2015 to the Department of Education while applying for student loan forgiveness.

A bill of information merely alleges that crimes have been committed.  The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, CALLAHAN faces a maximum sentence of up to three years, up to one year of supervised release, and up to a $100,000 fine per tax count. The Department of Education count calls for a maximum sentence of up to five years, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.  If convicted, CALLAHAN will be required to pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee for each count of conviction.

U.S. Attorney Evans commended the special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Department of Education for their handling of the matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward J. Rivera.