Damian R. Raby

Facts on the public record

1. Of Gonzales, Louisiana. Obtained Employer Identification Numbers and opened bank accounts for businesses that either did not exist during the COVID-19 pandemic or had no legitimate activity before it, then filed tax forms falsely claiming Employee Retention Credit refunds on their behalf, causing the IRS to issue more than 30 checks totaling approximately $4.4 million. source
2. After learning of the investigation into his conduct, made false statements to an IRS agent, sent fictitious documents to the IRS, and encouraged a witness to provide false information. source
3. Sentenced on 13 November 2025 by U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles to 216 months (18 years) in federal prison and three years of supervised release, following convictions for conspiracy to launder money and obstructing the administration of the internal revenue laws. Ordered to pay $2,603,678.04 in restitution to the U.S. Treasury and forfeit $2,045,241.58; the United States separately seized over $600,000 from his bank accounts and forfeited a residence in Gonzales, Louisiana purchased largely with fraudulent proceeds. source

Cases

• Louisiana man sentenced to 18 years for laundering $4.4 million in fake ERC checks (2025)

Sources

1. Gonzales man sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud the COVID-19-era employee retention credit program. US Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. Accessed 2026-09-22.