Editor’s note The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District sent out corrected information and said Ratnakar was acquitted of the obstruction charge at trial.
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A Wheeling-based doctor has been sentenced to federal prison in a tax fraud case involving $2.5 million.
U.S. Attorney Matthew Harvey said Nitesh Ratnakar, 50, not only committed tax fraud but he also took steps to obstruct federal authorities during the investigation.
“Dr. Ratnakar cheated the system by avoiding tax payments and then tried to cover it up,” Harvey said. “Tax fraud is stealing from all honest citizens and will not be tolerated in this district. Those who work to mislead investigators will be held accountable.”
Ratnakar has been ordered to serve 41 months in federal prison for 41 counts of tax fraud and one count of obstructing a federal grand jury investigation.
Ratnakar owned and operated a gastroenterology practice and a medical equipment manufacturer in Elkins. The investigation revealed he withheld payroll taxes from his employees’ paychecks and failed to make $2,419,560 in required payments to the Internal Revenue Service. Ratnakar also filed false tax returns in 2020, 2021, and 2022. During the investigation, investigators said he used false documents and information to respond to a federal grand jury subpoena.