NEW ORLEANS - The former chief deputy of a suburban New Orleans sheriff's department has been indicted on two federal tax charges.
 
The U.S. Attorney's Office in New Orleans on Thursday announced that a grand jury indicted Craig Taffaro on one count each of tax evasion and filing a false tax return.
 
The 70-year-old Taffaro is a former chief deputy of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. The indictment accuses him of falsely reporting business expenses.
 
Defense attorney Mike Magner says Taffaro is innocent and will fight the charges at trial.
 
Magner said Taffaro had a record of distinction at the Jefferson Sheriff's Office,. Magner also said the Internal Revenue Service has taken what should be a "very small civil tax dispute" and made it into a criminal case.