A Dallas business tycoon is facing the music after being indicted on charges of tax evasion, drug distribution, and money laundering. Dhanesh Deoraj Ganesh, a Westlake man who allegedly dodged taxes since 1992 while owning a string of DFW area bars and nightclubs, was hit with a federal indictment on January 17, according to the Department of Justice.
Ganesh, 62, allegedly engaged in a crafty game of hide-and-seek with the IRS by masking his business ownership, utilizing names of relatives including his ex-wife, brothers, and sons. He kept a stealthy financial footprint, steering clear of personal bank accounts or having his signature tied to any of his companies' accounts, the indictment sets forth. Instead, cash and checks from his enterprises were funneled through check-cashing services and turned into cashier’s checks, cunningly kept under $3,000 to skirt detection.
The long-standing tax evasion stratagem is said to have cost Uncle Sam around $1.6 million in unpaid taxes. But, Ganesh's illicit activities didn't stop at stiffing the taxman. The indictment asserts some of his establishments were also fronts for peddling cocaine.
Despite the gravity of the charges, it's important to note, that an indictment does not transform allegations into convictions. As U.S. law dictates, Mr. Ganesh wears a cloak of innocence until, or unless, proven otherwise. A conviction, however, carries steep consequences: a potential five-year sentence per count of tax evasion, and up to 20 years for conspiracy in both drug distribution and money laundering activities.
The IRS – Criminal Investigations’ Dallas Field Division took the lead in unraveling Ganesh's alleged financial web. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Walters of the Northern District of Texas is tasked with prosecuting the case. Public Affairs Officer Erin Dooley can be reached for further information.
