New Orleans Businessman Sentenced on Wire Fraud and Tax Charges

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that JASON C. DOYLE, age 38, of New Orleans, was sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to wire fraud and failing to pay taxes.  

U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance sentenced DOYLE to 30 months imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release.   As part of the sentence, the Court also ordered DOYLE to pay $993,960.34 in restitution to the victims

According to documents, DOYLE operated, controlled, marketed and sold several restaurant franchises to willing investors. From 2010 through 2014, DOYLE defrauded three investors who paid him monies for a restaurant franchise. DOYLE defrauded the investors of monies totaling in excess of $888,000. These investor monies were paid to DOYLE with the understanding that DOYLE would furnish them with either a restaurant or the equipment and essentials necessary to open a restaurant establishment. Instead of using the investor funds to complete the promised restaurant project, DOYLE fraudulently diverted the monies for his own personal use.

In 2010, DOYLE also deducted federal taxes from his employees’ wages. However, he failed to pay over the collected employee taxes to the Department of Treasury, in violation of federal tax law.

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations Division in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorneys Richard R. Pickens, II and Andre J. Lagarde were in charge of the prosecution.