Earl Schmit, age 75, of Metairie, Louisiana, was charged on July 13 by bill of information with making false statements to Internal Revenue Service Special Agents, according to a July 17 announcement from U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
If convicted, Schmit faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, up to three years of supervised release following his release from prison, and payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Courcelle said that the bill of information is merely a charge, and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Courcelle praised the work of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations division. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division.