Bookkeeper in Louisiana Indicted For Fraud and Tax Charges After Allegedly Stealing Money From A Business She Worked For

New Orleans, Louisiana – A bookkeeper in Louisiana has been indicted for fraud and tax charges after allegedly stealing money from a business she worked for.

On April 17, 2023, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Mary B. Katicich, age 63, of Marrero, Louisiana, was indicted on April 14, 2023, with four counts of wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, and one count of making and subscribing a false tax return in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1). If convicted, Katicich faces a maximum term of twenty years imprisonment as to each count of wire fraud and a maximum term of three years imprisonment for the tax charge. As to each count, Katicich also faces a maximum fine of $250,000.00 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person resulting from the offense, under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571. In addition, Katicich faces a term of supervised release of up to three (3) years on the wire fraud counts and up to one year on the tax count. Each count also carries a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

According to the indictment, Katicich worked as a bookkeeper for Business A in Belle Chase, Louisiana, from January 2015 until June 2018. Katicich took money from Company A’s bank accounts without permission or consent during this time period. To carry out this scheme, Katicich made electronic transfers from Company A to her personal and company bank accounts via ACH deposits and payroll check deposits in amounts more than her approved annual compensation. Katicich neglected to report payments received from Company A to the IRS in order to conceal her embezzlement plan, resulting in a total tax loss to the IRS of about $109,664.

U.S. Attorney Evans emphasized that the indictment is only a charge and that the defendant’s guilt must be established beyond a reasonable doubt.

The United States Attorney’s Office wishes to thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office for their help in this investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon S. Long of the Financial Crimes Unit is prosecuting this case.