Attorney who worked for DA Jason Williams law firm pleads guilty for filing false tax return Updated: 9:43 AM CST Mar 11, 2021 WDSU Digital Team Share Updated: 9:43 AM CST Mar 11, 2021 WDSU Digital Team An attorney who worked at the law firm of Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams has pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of failing to file a tax return. Robert Hjortsberg changed his plea from not guilty to guilty and agreed to pay restitution to the IRS and to cooperate with federal agents in any investigation they have underway.Hjortsberg’s former colleagues at the firm, Williams and his co-defendant Nicole Burdett face charges of conspiring to file false tax returns while they were at the same firm as Hjortsberg. Williams was indicted on allegations of fraudulent tax returns in June of 2020.
WDSU Investigates: New Orleans taxpayers footing bill for attorney charged in tax fraud crimes Share Updated: 2:32 PM CST Feb 10, 2021 Travers Mackel, Reporter Share Updated: 2:32 PM CST Feb 10, 2021
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Show Transcript GINA: WDSU INVESTIGATORS UNCOVER TAXPAYERS ARE NOW FOOTING THE LEGAL BILL FOR A NEW ORLEANS ATTORNEY CHARGED IN SOME HIGH PROFILE TAX FRAUD CRIMES SULA: HER NAME, NICOLE BURDETT. WHAT MAKES HER STAND OUT? SHE’S THE FORMER LAW PARTNER OF THE NEW DISTRICT ATTORNEY JASON WILLIAMS AND A CO-DEFENDANT IN HIS TAX FRAUD CASE TRAVERS MACKEL DIGS DEEPER INTO CONCERNS OVER TAXPAYERS FOOTING THE BILL FOR HER HIGH-PROFILE DEFENSE ATTORNEY TRAVERS: THE PRICES FOR LAWYERS ASSIGNED TO DEFEND THOSE DEEMED INDIGENT, OR UNABLE TO PAY F AN ATTORNEY, ARE SET BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IT CAN RANGE FROM $155 AN HOUR ALL THE WAY UP TO $197 AN HOUR THE LAWYER ASSIGNED TO DEFEND BURDETTE BY THE PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE IS ONE