Federal prosecutors have brought criminal charges against former Jefferson Parish Councilman Chris Roberts. A grand jury issued a 29-count indictment on charges of wire fraud and tax evasion.
Investigators have spent two years looking into the former councilman's finances. Roberts abruptly resigned from the council last week.
The charges state that Roberts, in 2013, was hired by the widow of a Terrytown-based landscaping company owner to handle the company's business affaits. According to the indictment, Roberts began defrauding the company by writing checks to himself on the company bank account, then claiming in company records that the withdrawals were legitimate.
Prosecutors say among things Roberts bought with the illegally-obtained money was a 2.01-carat diamond engagement ring.
The indictment also accuses Roberts of failing to report substantial amounts of income between 2010 and 2016. The U.S. Attorney's Office said when Roberts learned of the investigation in 2017, he filed amended returns for those years that showed significant increases in his income, but still underreported his earnings.
WWL-TV reports a conviction on all counts could potentially total 475 years of prison time and $6.2 million in fines.