SHREVEPORT, La. – In a shocking case of corporate deceit, Vongphanet J. ‘Joe’ Siharath, 40, of Bossier City, LA, was sentenced to 41 months in prison with five years of supervised release for bank fraud.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, Siharath admitted to forging signatures of doctors associated with the medical practice of Cardiology Associates in Shreveport, where he was office manager from Jan. 22, 2008 to July 25, 2012.
Siharath forged approximately 48 checks and purchased one cashier’s check, with a total loss of $1,057,949 to Cardiology and Associates. The forged checks were made payable to various payees, and Siharath controlled each account the money was deposited into.
Beginning on Jan. 30, 2009 until July 25, 2012, the defendant also obtained loans to cover the money taken because of the forged checks. The loan officer at the bank allowed the defendant to leave with the bank paperwork to have it signed by various doctors. Instead, the defendant forged the doctors’ names.
The U.S. Secret Service and the Caddo Parish White Collar Crime Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mignonne Griffing prosecuted the case.
In a stunning display of greed and deceit, Siharath manipulated the trust of his employers and colleagues to line his own pockets. His sentence serves as a reminder that such crimes will not be tolerated in our society.
Defendant/respondent: Vongphanet J. ‘Joe’ Siharath
Criminal charges: Bank fraud
City and state: Shreveport, Louisiana
Exact date: January 22, 2008 – July 25, 2012 (crime dates)
Sentence or outcome: 41 months in prison with five years of supervised release
Dollar amounts: $1,057,949 (restitution)
Related Federal Cases
- Michael Sapera, Bank Fraud, Louisiana 2015 · Louisiana
- Duane A. Dufrene, Bank Fraud and Money Laundering, Louisiana 2021 · Louisiana
- Ryan H., Bank Fraud, Louisiana, 2023 · Louisiana
- ROBERT PACKNETT, Bank Fraud, Louisiana 2013 · Louisiana
- Ryan Guilty of $1 Billion Bank Fraud, Louisiana 2023 · Louisiana
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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