United States v. Jacobs

194 F. Supp. 3d 216, 100 Fed. R. Serv. 1069, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 90286, 2016 WL 3840772
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. New York
DecidedJuly 12, 2016
Docket14-CR-160 (WFK)
StatusPublished

This text of 194 F. Supp. 3d 216 (United States v. Jacobs) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Jacobs, 194 F. Supp. 3d 216, 100 Fed. R. Serv. 1069, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 90286, 2016 WL 3840772 (E.D.N.Y. 2016).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

WILLIAM F. KUNTZ, II, United States District Judge

On March 21, 2014, Williesteina Jacobs (“Defendant”) was indicted on twenty seven counts of Aiding in the Preparation of False Returns in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(2). ECF No. 1 (“Indictment”). On July 7, 2016, the Court held a hearing on motions in limine filed by Defendant and the Government. The Court hereby DENIES Defendant’s motion in limine, ECF No. 36, and GRANTS the Government’s motion in limine, ECF No. 39.

BACKGROUND

On March 21, 2014, Defendant was charged by an Indictment with twenty-seven counts of Aiding in the Preparation of False Returns in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(2). Indictment ¶¶ 6-7. On March 25, 2014, Defendant was arraigned before Magistrate Judge Go and pleaded Not Guilty to all counts. ECF No. 3 (“Arraignment Minute Entry”).

On February 12, 2016, Defendant filed a motion in limine to admit into evidence certain Internal Revenue Service (“I.R.S.”) regulations. ECF No. 36 (“Def. Mot.”). The Government filed a memorandum in opposition on April 1, 2016. ECF No. 40 (“Gov’t Opp.”). Defendant filed a reply memorandum on June 29, 2016. ECF No. 43 (“Def. Reply”).

On March 17, 2016, the Government filed a motion in limine asking the Court to (1) admit evidence of an undercover operation conducted by an I.R.S. Agent, (2) admit evidence of additional uncharged false tax returns prepared by Defendant, and (3) permit an I.R.S. Revenue Agent to remain in the courtroom throughout the trial and serve as a summary witness. ECF No. 39 (“Gov’t Mot.”). Defendant filed a memorandum in opposition on April 1, 2016. ECF No. 41 (“Def. Opp.”).

On July 7, 2016, the Court held a hearing on both motions in limine. For the following reasons, the Court DENIES Defendant’s motion and GRANTS the Government’s motion.

DISCUSSION

I. Defendant’s Motion

Defendant moves the Court for permission:

(i) to inquire about the applicable Internal Revenue Code provisions and accompanying regulations, and the IRS’s guidance (as set forth in Internal Revenue Bulletins and Advance Notices announcing its substantive rulings, procedures, and other technical items) governing the legal duty of tax preparers to audit the factual representations of their clients; and
(ii) to introduce as exhibits copies of the applicable Internal Revenue Code provisions and regulations, and the IRS’ guidance, at trial.

Def. Mot. at 2. Defendant argues that, under the governing tax regulations, a tax preparer has no legal duty to audit a client’s representations. Id. at 3-6. Defendant further argues that because the Government must prove that Defendant intentionally violated a known legal duty in [218]*218order to convict her of tax fraud, evidence of these regulations is relevant to the question of her intent and must be introduced to avoid jury confusion. Id. at 2-3, 7-8.

In response, the Government argues that Defendant’s request contravenes the well-settled principle that the law is not admissible evidence in a criminal trial. Gov’t Opp. at 3. The Government argues that the Court alone has jurisdiction to determine the applicable law, and cites to several cases in which federal courts of appeal have upheld decisions by district courts refusing to admit legal materials offered by defendants in criminal tax trials. Id. (citing, inter alia, United States v. Stafford, 983 F.2d 25, 27 (5th Cir.1993); United States v. Payne, 978 F.2d 1177, 1182 (10th Cir.1992); United States v. Barnett, 945 F.2d 1296, 1301 n. 2 (5th Cir. 1991)). The Government further argues that the I.R.S. regulations at issue are irrelevant and should be excluded under Federal Rule of Evidence (“F.R.E.”) 401, and that the regulations would be unduly confusing to the jury and should be excluded under F.R.E. 403. Id. at 4-6.

Defendant replies that, although the obligations of a taxpayer are straightforward, the obligations of a tax preparer are not. Def. Reply at 6. Defendant argues that the governing regulations must be admitted to properly establish the element of “willfulness,” because jurors may wonder whether Defendant sufficiently inquired into the potentially false information her clients provided. Id. Defendant insists that this evidence would be “narrowly focused on the extent and limits of [Defendant’s] duty as a tax preparer,” and not “so diffuse as to be utterly confusing.” Id. at 4.

This Court will not allow Defendant to inquire into, or offer into evidence, provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and their accompanying regulations. Permitting the admission of such evidence would undermine the Court’s role- of -instructing the jury on the applicable law. See United States v. Kraeger, 711 F.2d 6, 7-8 (2d Cir.1983) (noting that questions of law are for the court to decide, and questions of fact are for the jury). Furthermore, such evidence is irrelevant to Defendant’s willfulness and is precluded under F.R.E. 401. To demonstrate willfulness, the Government must show that Defendant fabricated information on the relevant tax returns and knew the returns were false. If the evidence shows that the Defendant’s clients presented false information to her, and Defendant did not know the information was false, she cannot be found to have acted willfully and is not guilty of the charged crime. If the evidence shows that Defendant did not investigate false representations made by her clients when she had no legal duty to do so, the Court will instruct the jury on the law and they may determine Defendant’s willfulness. Either way, introduction of the relevant I.R.S. provisions into evidence is both irrelevant and unnecessary.

II. Government’s Motion

The Government has made three requests in its motion in limine. This Court addresses each request in turn.

A. Undercover Operation

First, the Government moves the Court to . admit evidence of an undercover operation conducted on March 18, 2010, in which an I.R.S. Agent posed as a taxpayer-client in order to have Defendant prepare his 2009 tax return. The return allegedly would have generated a tax liability of $1,448.00 if it was prepared correctly; however, Defendant prepared a return in which the undercover agent was entitled to a refund. Gov’t. Mot. at 2-3. The undercover agent’s interactions with Defendant were recorded visually and audibly. Id. [219]*219Defendant does not contest the admissibility of this evidence. See generally Def. Opp.

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Bluebook (online)
194 F. Supp. 3d 216, 100 Fed. R. Serv. 1069, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 90286, 2016 WL 3840772, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-jacobs-nyed-2016.