U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that NISIKA WEST, age 36, of Kenner, was sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to a three-count Indictment charging her with theft of public money
U.S. District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt sentenced WEST to one year imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, WEST was ordered to pay $177,045.61 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
According to court records, between in or about March 2012 and May 2012, WEST knowingly took money from the United States Department of the Treasury through the filing of fraudulent income tax returns. An investigation by the IRS revealed that the fraudulent tax returns were filed using the defendant’s Electronic Filing Identification Number under the name West Tax Service. Illicit refunds were then deposited into the defendant’s bank accounts and withdrawn by the defendant.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney G. Dall Kammer was in charge of the prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
