Former NOPD Cop Pleads Guilty To Tax Evasion

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A former New Orleans officer has pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of tax evasion.

Maurice Palmer entered his plea Thursday.

Federal prosecutors tell The Times-Picayune Palmer filed no income tax returns for 2006, 2007 or 2008, bilking the government of a total of $31,662.

The 51-year-old Palmer was employed by the police department from 1987 through 2009.

Prosecutors say Palmer filed a fraudulent Internal Revenue Service W-4 form with the police department, falsely claiming he was exempt from tax withholdings. As a result, no tax was withheld from his paychecks.

Palmer will be sentenced on March 7.