Louisiana Couple Arrested for Felony Tax Fraud
Summary
The Louisiana Department of Revenue announced the arrest of William T. Lewis and Jill A. Lewis of Madisonville, LA, for felony tax fraud. The couple allegedly submitted false amended state income tax returns claiming wages and withholding from a nonexistent employer for tax years 2021 through 2024, stealing $50,700 in fraudulent refunds and attempting to steal an additional $32,113. Each defendant faces 11 counts of filing false public records, 11 counts of computer fraud, nine counts of theft, and two counts of attempted theft.
What changed
William T. Lewis and Jill A. Lewis were arrested in East Baton Rouge Parish on April 1, 2026, following an investigation by the Louisiana Department of Revenue. The couple allegedly submitted false amended state income tax returns for tax years 2021 through 2024 claiming wages and withholding from a nonexistent employer, resulting in the theft of $50,700 in fraudulent refunds and attempted theft of $32,113. They are the 79th and 80th persons arrested under a joint anti-tax fraud initiative between LDR and the state attorney general's office.
This enforcement action demonstrates continued aggressive pursuit of state tax fraud by Louisiana authorities. While this case does not create new compliance obligations for the public, it signals the department's active surveillance of refund fraud schemes. Tax professionals and filers should be aware that amended return claims are subject to scrutiny, and fraudulent schemes carry serious criminal penalties including incarceration.
Penalties
Each defendant faces 11 counts of filing false public records (Class B felonies), 11 counts of computer fraud (Class A felonies), nine counts of theft (Class B felonies), and two counts of attempted theft (Class B felonies)
Archived snapshot
Apr 2, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Married Louisiana couple arrested for felony tax fraud
Updated April 02, 2026
BATON ROUGE – A married Louisiana couple face felony charges for a scheme to steal tens of thousands of dollars in fraudulent state tax refunds.
Investigators with the Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR) say William T. Lewis (Booking Photo) and Jill A. Lewis (Booking Photo), both of Madisonville, submitted false amended state income tax returns claiming wages and withholding from a nonexistent employer. The false amended returns were for the years 2021 through 2024, years for which the couple had submitted tax returns previously and received refunds. Their alleged “double dipping” resulted in the theft of $50,700 in fraudulent refunds and the attempted theft of an additional $32,113.
William and Jill Lewis were arrested by authorities in Osceola County, Florida in March and transported to Louisiana. Each was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, on 11 counts of filing false public records, 11 counts of computer fraud, nine counts of theft and two counts of attempted theft. They are the 79 th and 80 th persons arrested under a joint anti-tax fraud initiative of the Louisiana Department of Revenue and the state attorney general’s office.
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Byron Henderson
Public Information Director
[email protected]
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