Former State Rep. Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

Former State Rep. Girod Jackson, pleaded guilty to three counts of tax evasion and tax fraud before a federal judge Thursday. Jackson’s firm came under scrutiny during a federal probe of the Jefferson Parish Housing Authority. Jackson resigned on August 22, after the charges were filed.

Jackson’s plea was expected because the charges were delivered in the form of a bill of information and not as part of an indictment. Jackson admitted that his 2006 federal tax return misinterpreted how much his company, Diversified Ventures, made that year. He also failed to file tax returns for 2007 and 2008, even though his earnings required him to do so.

Jackson is facing up to three years in prison, and fines totaling $125,000.

In a statement issued after his resignation, Jackson admitted to misfiling his tax returns and said he is “not without fault,” though he maintained he “worked to be a symbol of honor and pride for myself and the constituents of the 87th district.”