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ELKINS -- A local doctor is facing federal charges after allegedly failing to pay nearly $2.5 million in payroll taxes.
Nitesh Ratnakar, 48, was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury on 41 counts of tax fraud and one count of obstructing a federal grand jury, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of West Virginia.
Ratnakar was also charged with filing false tax returns in 2020, 2021 and 2022, and causing false documents to be provided in response to a federal grand jury subpoena.
"We take tax fraud seriously because it affects everyone," U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld said in the release. "As tax season kicks into high gear, this case serves as a reminder that being dishonest with the I.R.S. is never a good idea."
Ratnakar owned and operated a gastroenterology practice and a medical equipment manufacturer in Elkins, the release states. He is listed on Davis Health System's website as a provider at the Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Center.
According to the press release, Ratnakar is alleged to have withheld payroll taxes from his employees' paychecks, but then failed to make all required payments to the Internal Revenue Service. Between 2018 and 2022, Ratnakar allegedly failed to pay more than $2,419,560 in employee withholdings to the I.R.S.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas. It was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.