Former Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Charged with Tax Crimes in Superseding Indictment

Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that CRAIG A. TAFFARO, age 70, of Harvey, a former Chief Deputy for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, was charged yesterday in a Superseding Indictment with six counts of tax evasion, five counts of filing a false tax return, and one count of failing to file a tax return. 

According to the Superseding Indictment, TAFFARO willfully attempted to evade tax due and owing by, among other things, filing returns with false and exaggerated business expenses for tax years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, and by causing the filing of a false estimate of his tax liability for tax year 2014. The Superseding Indictment also alleges that TAFFARO willfully failed to file a return when required by law for tax year 2014.

If convicted, TAFFARO faces maximum terms of imprisonment of five years for each count of tax evasion, three years for each count of filing a false return, and one year for failure to file a tax return.

Acting U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a Superseding Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Chandra Menon, Tracey Knight, and David Sinkman are in charge of the prosecution.