Louisiana tax commission administrator arrested, accused of payroll fraud and other offenses

The top administrator of the Louisiana Tax Commission was arrested Friday for allegedly collecting pay for hundreds of hours he actually spent playing golf, shopping, receiving spa treatments and indulging in similar activities.

Charles Abels III, 51, of Baton Rouge, claimed and was paid on multiple occasions for time worked "while not in the performance of his (tax commission) duties," Louisiana State Police said in a news release Friday morning. Abels is also accused of using a state rental car for his personal use.

Authorities conducted a "surveillance operation of Abels for one full week" beginning at the end of July, according to his arrest warrant. During that time he "was observed playing golf on several different occasions at multiple golf courses. He was also observed shopping, visiting a spa, attending court in Livingston Parish on a personal matter and consuming alcoholic beverages."

The audit found that Abels spent a total of one hour and 40 minutes in his office during the entire week that he was under surveillance. Authorities wrote in the warrant that he visited the office Monday morning and for the rest of the week engaged in activities that "did not appear to be related to (tax commission) business."

Read more: https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/crime_police/article_8e984096-15b6-11e9-950e-5f48353a7e8b.html