Louisiana Man Charged With Defrauding His Employer and Filing False Tax Return
From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana:
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that DEEPAK “JACK” JAGTIANI, age 60, a resident of Metairie, was charged on December 19, 2019 in a two-count indictment with wire fraud and making false statements on a federal income tax return.
According to the indictment, from 2007 to 2019, JAGTIANI served as the comptroller of Dan-Gulf Shipping, Inc., a Metairie-based freight forwarding company. In that capacity, JAGTIANI had the authority to manage the payroll and other accounts for Dan-Gulf. Using his authority, JAGTIANI paid himself excessive salaries and benefits from 2009 through early 2019. In total, JAGTIANI defrauded Dan-Gulf of over $7,000,000.00. The indictment also alleges that JAGTIANI filed false personal tax returns in April 2018, in which he claimed that he and his spouse sustained $998,335.00 in business losses from a “catering business” in order to reduce their tax burden. In truth and in fact, neither JAGTIANI nor his spouse operated any catering business.
If convicted of wire fraud, JAGTIANI faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000.00 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. If convicted of filing false tax returns, JAGTIANI faces a maximum of three years of imprisonment, a $250,000.00 fine, and up to one year of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the agencies that contributed to this indictment, including the U.S. Secret Service, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. U.S. Attorney Strasser also extended his thanks to the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this matter. This case is an example of the coordinated effort of the federal and state law enforcement authorities within the Louisiana Financial Crimes Task Force, which includes representatives from the U.S. Secret Service, the Internal Revenue Service, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, Louisiana State Police, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, New Orleans Police Department, Covington Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Kenner Police Department, Mandeville Police Department, Slidell Police Department, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Office, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Tammany Parish District Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. State Department, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew R. Payne is in charge of the prosecution, and Assistant United States Attorney Michael B. Redmann is handling forfeiture.
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that DEEPAK “JACK” JAGTIANI, age 60, a resident of Metairie, was charged on December 19, 2019 in a two-count indictment with wire fraud and making false statements on a federal income tax return.
According to the indictment, from 2007 to 2019, JAGTIANI served as the comptroller of Dan-Gulf Shipping, Inc., a Metairie-based freight forwarding company. In that capacity, JAGTIANI had the authority to manage the payroll and other accounts for Dan-Gulf. Using his authority, JAGTIANI paid himself excessive salaries and benefits from 2009 through early 2019. In total, JAGTIANI defrauded Dan-Gulf of over $7,000,000.00. The indictment also alleges that JAGTIANI filed false personal tax returns in April 2018, in which he claimed that he and his spouse sustained $998,335.00 in business losses from a “catering business” in order to reduce their tax burden. In truth and in fact, neither JAGTIANI nor his spouse operated any catering business.
If convicted of wire fraud, JAGTIANI faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000.00 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. If convicted of filing false tax returns, JAGTIANI faces a maximum of three years of imprisonment, a $250,000.00 fine, and up to one year of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the agencies that contributed to this indictment, including the U.S. Secret Service, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. U.S. Attorney Strasser also extended his thanks to the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this matter. This case is an example of the coordinated effort of the federal and state law enforcement authorities within the Louisiana Financial Crimes Task Force, which includes representatives from the U.S. Secret Service, the Internal Revenue Service, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, Louisiana State Police, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, New Orleans Police Department, Covington Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Kenner Police Department, Mandeville Police Department, Slidell Police Department, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Office, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Tammany Parish District Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. State Department, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew R. Payne is in charge of the prosecution, and Assistant United States Attorney Michael B. Redmann is handling forfeiture.