Prison Sentence Thrown Out for Tax Preparer

Komie and Associates Successfully Defends IRS Tax Preparer in Federal Court

In Federal Court, Laura Baxter was re‑sentenced to two years' probation after her previous sentence of three years in prison was vacated by Chief Judge James Holderman. He found Mrs. Baxter's attorneys who had failed to retain the services of a qualified tax expert to determine the actual tax loss caused using one false work paper in an IRS audit.

Ms. Baxter had pled guilty to submitting a false work paper to the Internal Revenue Service. Her former attorneys had plead her guilty and stipulated the tax loss was $576,000.00.

Her new attorney Stephen M. Komie persuaded Judge Holderman that the actual tax loss involved was $23,000.00. Then Judge Holderman vacated her previous sentence of three years in custody and re-sentenced her to two years' probation.

Ms. Baxter's sentencing hearing was marked by repeated testimonials from members of her Will County community and her family. Notably, she had provided free tax return preparation service to veterans and people unable to pay for preparation of their tax returns. Judge Holderman remarked during the sentencing; prison or community service was not warranted considering her years of service to her community.

After the hearing, Judge Holderman said, "Thank you, Mr. Komie, for averting and correcting a miscarriage of justice which occurred in this case."

Attorney Stephen Komie has successfully defended cases in federal court. Call his Chicago, Illinois office at 312-263-2800 for a free consultation.