NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that JESSE MARCUS ESTES, age 44, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud before U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk.

ESTES faces a term of imprisonment of up to twenty (20) years imprisonment, a maximum $250,000.00 fine, and up to three (3) years of supervised release.  Judge Africk scheduled sentencing for May 22, 2019.

According to court documents, ESTES conspired to commit wire fraud while employed by Texas Steam & Instrumentation Company (Texas Steam), a corporation related to Louisiana Steam Equipment Company, a Louisiana company located in New Orleans. As Executive Vice President, ESTES conspired with two Texas companies to defraud Texas Steam through a scheme to have Texas Steam or Louisiana Steam pay false invoices generated by the two Texas companies. The Texas companies then kicked back funds to ESTES by paying for fraudulent invoices from Industrial Sales, a company operated by ESTES. ESTES also used another company he owned and operated, Tru-Line Builders, to pass fraudulent invoices through Texas Steam. The scheme spanned from 2007 until 2014 and the defendant stole approximately $374,626 from Louisiana Steam and related subsidiary companies through a fraudulent “pay to play” scheme. 

U.S. Attorney Strasser thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation for its investigation in this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Patrice Harris Sullivan and Duane A. Evans are in charge of the prosecution.

 

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