Ex-DeSoto DA headed to federal prison for filing false tax return
SHREVEPORT, LA (KSLA) - The former DeSoto Parish DA who admitted to filing false tax returns is heading to federal prison for at least 10 months.
Richard Johnson, Jr. of Mansfield pleaded guilty in September to filing a false federal income tax return.
After an IRS investigation, Johnson pleaded guilty to failing to report an estimated $80,000 on his 2011 U.S. individual income tax return.
He faced up to 3 years in prison, 1 year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine in addition to making restitution of taxes owed to the U.S. Treasury.
At a hearing in Federal court on Wednesday morning, Johnson was sentenced to 1 year and 1 day in prison. According to his attorney Paul Carmouche, that makes Johnson eligible for "good time" credit and means he could get out in 10 months.
He was also ordered to make restitution to the federal government in the amount of $270,000. Because he was ordered to pay that money back, Carmouche says the judge did not order a fine on top of the restitution.
In a statement to the judge during the sentencing hearing, Carmouche says Johnson told the judge he'd "made a terrible mistake and that he was accepting responsibility, saying that it wasn't anybody's fault but his."
The former DeSoto Parish District Attorney also quoted a Bible passage, saying that even Jesus said you have to "pay the temple tax."
"He's not blaming the charge on anyone," Carmouche says, and just wants to get this behind him.
It's not known yet where Johnson will serve his time, but he must report to whatever facility the Federal Bureau of Prisons advises by April 4.
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