Corpus Christi Man Indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Multiple Wire Fraud Counts in Scheme to Defraud Louisiana and Texas Companies and Forfeiture

A Federal Grand Jury sitting in New Orleans returned an 11-count  indictment against MARC JESSE ESTES charging approximately $414,982 in fraud, announced U. S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

Specifically, ESTES, age 43, Corpus Christi, TX was indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and eleven counts of wire fraud related to his employment with 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 joined 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 resulted in a fraud to Texas Steam and Louisiana Steam of approximately $414,982.

If convicted, ESTES faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on each count.

U. S. Duane Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrice Harris Sullivan.