METAIRIE, La. — Former Jefferson Parish Councilmember Chris Roberts has been charged by federal prosecutors with 29 counts of wire fraud and tax evasion.
The 41-year-old was indicted Thursday by a grand jury. If convicted, he faces a maximum term of 475 years in prison and a fine of up to $6.2 million.
"Word on the street was that this was going to be a one-count bill of information and it was going to be real simple, this is not simple," WWL-TV Legal Analyst Chick Foret said. "This is very complicated."
The charges revolve around Roberts' alleged defrauding of Dan’s Landscaping, identified in the indictment as “Company A” and hiding a significant amount of his annual income on his tax returns.
Roberts became general manager of Dan’s Landscaping after the passing of the company’s owner in 2013.
According to the Department of Justice, Roberts wrote checks to himself and several companies he controlled under Dan’s Landscaping’s name. He also allegedly used their debit card to pay for goods and services that benefitted him personally.
Among the things he’s accused of buying with stolen money are a customized shipping container to use as a retail location for his fireworks business, three remote-controlled drones and a $16,000 engagement ring.
Story continues under video of legal analyst 'Chick' Foret breaking down the charges against ex-councilman Chris Roberts
Prosecutors also accuse Roberts of failing to report a substantial amount of his income from multiple businesses between 2010 and 2016.
Roberts allegedly hired a new accountant to amend his tax returns after learning about the federal investigation in 2017. In one case, Roberts allegedly reported a joint total income of $188,759 for 2013, but in his amended return he reported a total income of $568,957.
"(The indictment) has some similarities to the Ray Nagin indictment, but it does not include any activities as a councilman," Foret noted.
Roberts resigned abruptly from his council seat in April. He had been on the Jefferson Parish council since 2004.
"It has been my great honor and privilege to serve the people of Jefferson Parish," Roberts said in his brief resignation letter. "I wish the State of Louisiana and Jefferson Parish much success in the future."
The wide-ranging probe began after political opponents attacked him in 2015 about his late filings of several years' worth of tax returns.
Roberts' attorney Eddie Castaing told WWL-TV, however, the case against his client is "only tax related" and "has nothing to do with his former public office."
Read the full indictment below: