Melissa Rose Barrett, MD, who owned and operated two urgent care clinics in the Baton Rouge area, owed the IRS approximately $1.6 million in taxes, excluding penalties and interest, according to a Nov. 1 news release from the Justice Department.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Dr. Barrett took a variety of steps to evade the payment of her outstanding tax liability, such as filing a false form underreporting income with the IRS and keeping cash in a safe instead of the bank.
She also purchased millions of dollars of real estate and personal property — including a personal residence, a boat, an airplane and farmland — in the names of nominees, the release said.
Dr. Barrett faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
