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 Sheriffs Office. U.S. Attorney Strasser also extended his thanks to the Jefferson Parish District Attorneys 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 Generals Office, Louisiana State Police, Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office, New Orleans Police Department, Covington Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Kenner Police Department, Mandeville Police Department, Slidell Police Department, St. Bernard Parish Sheriffs Office, St. John the Baptist Sheriffs Office, St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriffs Office, St. Tammany Parish District Attorneys 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.
-- Eastern District of Lousiana
Source: U.S. Secret Service