Film Producer Loses Bid to Undo 20-Month Sentence for Tax Fraud

Los Angeles-based film producer and lawyer Peter Hoffman lost his appeal challenging a 20-month prison sentence for defrauding a state-administered tax credit program, after a panel of Fifth Circuit judges found themselves unable to reach any substantive agreement.

Judge E. Grady Jolly wanted to affirm the lower court’s judgment in its entirety. Judge Priscilla Richman would have dismissed the appeal as untimely. And Judge James L. Dennis said would have remanded the case for an evidentiary hearing and re-sentencing.

“Due to the lack of agreement as to the judgment to be entered in this appeal, the district court’s judgment stands,” ...