Source: United States Department of Justice News
A federal grand jury recently returned a one-count indictment charging Melissa Rose Barrett, age 48, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Clive, Iowa, with tax evasion. Barrett appeared for her arraignment and pled not guilty to the pending charges.
Barrett, a physician, owned and operated an urgent care clinic known as Stat Care Clinics, L.L.C. d/b/a Central Stat Care. According to the indictment, for tax years 2007 through 2017, Barrett owed significant taxes totaling approximately $1.6 million, excluding interest and penalties. While not paying her taxes, Barrett made millions of dollars in purchases, including a boat, a personal residence, real property, an airplane, and other items totaling at least $6.7 million.
This matter is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations Unit and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward H. Warner.
NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.