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NEW ORLEANS– United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Scott Pellissier (“Pellissier”), age 55, of Slidell, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on May 13, 2021 to one count of failing to account for and pay federal income taxes and Federal Insurance Contributions Act (“FICA”) taxes, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7202.

According to documents filed in federal court, Pellissier was the sole owner of two companies located in Slidell, Louisiana: Paint and Body Experts of Slidell, Inc. (“Paint and Body Experts”), a corporation that repairs and refinishes cars, and Pellissier Autoplex, LLC, d/b/a The Radiator Shop of Slidell (“Radiator Shop”). During the third quarter of the year 2016, Pellissier collected federal income taxes and FICA taxes in the approximate sum of $43,205.83 from employees of Paint and Body Experts, but willfully did not pay any of that money to the Internal Revenue Service. According to court documents, Pellissier failed to account for and pay additional FICA and other taxes associated with Paint and Body Experts and the Radiator Shop, resulting in a total loss amount between $550,000 and $1.5 million.

Pellissier faces a maximum sentence of five years. Upon release from prison, Pellissier also faces a $100 mandatory special assessment fee and a term of supervised release of up to three years, and/or a fine of $10,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person under Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. United States District Court Judge Carl J. Barbier set sentencing in this matter for August 19, 2021.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the work of the Internal Revenue Service on this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni.