NOLA Accountant Accused of $64K Rent Skim

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – A New Orleans accountant is facing federal charges after allegedly pilfering over $64,000 from his employer and then attempting to manipulate the justice system to cover his tracks. JASON PICK, 42, was indicted on eight counts of wire fraud on April 19, 2024, according to United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.

The indictment details a scheme spanning from June 2020 to October 25, 2021, while PICK was employed as an accountant for Company A, a New Orleans-based real estate management firm. Prosecutors allege PICK systematically altered money orders intended as rent payments from tenants, redirecting approximately $64,137.00 into his personal bank account. A classic, brazen theft – made easier by a position of trust.

But the alleged fraud didn’t stop there. While already awaiting sentencing for a separate scheme to defraud a *previous* employer, PICK allegedly submitted a forged letter to a federal judge, falsely claiming it originated from Company A. The intent? To delay his reporting date for prison, giving him more time to further obfuscate the accounting records and conceal the ongoing theft from Company A. A desperate attempt to compound the crime, and a clear disrespect for the court.

If convicted on all counts, PICK faces a hefty penalty: up to 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, up to 3 years of supervised release following imprisonment, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee. These aren’t victimless crimes; the money stolen impacts the company, and ultimately, those who rely on it.

U.S. Attorney Evans was quick to caution that the indictment represents allegations, not proof. “The indictment is merely a charge, and the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt,” he stated. The wheels of justice turn slowly, but they *do* turn.

The investigation was led by the United States Secret Service, with the prosecution handled by G. Dall Kammer, Chief of General Crimes, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy L. Bell of the Violent Crimes Unit. This case serves as a reminder that financial crimes, no matter how carefully concealed, will be pursued by federal authorities. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it develops.