Boyce Resident Indicted for Mail and Tax Fraud, Corrupt Interference, and Money Laundering After Falsely Claiming Over $9.75 Million in Tax Refunds Owed

LAFAYETTE- On April 15, 2026, a federal grand jury in Lafayette returned a four-count indictment charging Jane Frances Pierce, a 63-year-old Boyce resident, with mail fraud, filing false tax returns, corruptly interfering with an Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") investigation, and money laundering. Pierce faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the mail fraud charge, up to 10 years in federal prison for the money laundering charge, three years in federal prison for the tax fraud and corrupt interference charges, and three years of supervised release for the mail fraud and money laundering counts.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

According to court documents, Pierce filed false tax returns on behalf of a trust she controlled, claiming a total of almost $10 million in refunds. Pierce obtained more than $1 million from the IRS and used the funds for personal expenses, including purchasing a house and vehicle for herself, repaying a personal loan, and paying her relatives' mortgages. When the IRS attempted to recover the refunds Pierce fraudulently obtained, she obstructed the agency's efforts by filing a false amended tax return, mailing the IRS a fake check, and filing a false court document.

The IRS - Criminal Investigations investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Western District of Louisiana and Isaiah Boyd of the Criminal Division Tax Section with assistance from Legal Assistant Tanya Broussard.

U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana at https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.govLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacerLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link., under Case Number 26-CR-00147.

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Public Affairs

United States Attorney's Office

Western District of Louisiana

[email protected]

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdla

Twitter @USAO_WDLA