DECEMBER 2014, US DISTRICT COURT, PEORIA

NOT GUILTY

Client, a tax preparer, was accused of filing fraudulent tax returns for his customers. At trial, Mr. Hiatt pointed out that certain of the returns were reviewed and approved by the customers, even though they attempted to deny doing so during the trial. The jury returned a not guilty verdict on these charges. Although the client was found guilty on other counts, the not guilty verdicts reduced the amount claimed by the government and lowered the client’s exposure. Mr. Hiatt successfully argued for a sentence below the United States Sentencing Guidelines and far below that requested by the government.