NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that WAYNE TRICHE, 72, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and tax fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343 and Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1), respectively.
According to Court documents, TRICHE was responsible for managing a portion of the New Orleans Firefighters Pension and Relief Fund’s (“NORPRF”) investments. Rather than return the profits earned to the NOPRF, TRICHE embezzled approximately $937,658.77 and used those funds for personal expenses such as a civil court judgment, credit card charges, and gambling. The tax fraud charges stem from TRICHE’s failure to claim the embezzled funds on his personal income tax returns, resulting in tax due and owing to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $329,895.00.
As to the wire fraud charge, TRICHE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. As to the tax fraud, TRICHE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of three (3) years, a fine of up to $100,000, up to one year of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. TRICHE will be sentenced on June 14, 2022.
“Today’s guilty plea sends a clear message that individuals like Mr. Wayne Triche who engage in financial fraud will be discovered and held accountable. The FBI is determined to identify, investigate, and bring to justice those who are committing financial crimes to enrich themselves at the expense of others,” said FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams, Jr. “We thank our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Louisiana and Internal Revenue Service for their strong partnership and unrelenting pursuit of justice.”
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tracey N. Knight.