NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A 32-year-old Ponchatoula man and his home elevation company have been indicted by a federal grand jury on 11 counts.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says Christopher Benson and his Louisiana Home Elevations LLC are charged with conspiring to conceal and encourage illegal immigrants by providing them employment with the company, conducting related monetary transactions and structuring their finances to evade reporting requirements.

U.S. Attorney Jim Letten said Friday in a news release that Benson also individually faces a charge of corruptly impeding the IRS by engaging in acts to avoid paying payroll taxes, Medicare, Social Security and income taxes on behalf of his company's workers.

If convicted, Benson faces up to 113 years in prison, three years of supervised release and $3 million in fines.

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