BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - A Gonzales man has reportedly been ordered to spend nearly two decades behind bars in connection with a multi-million dollar scheme to defraud a COVID-19 economic relief program.

U.S. Attorney Kurt Wall announced this week that a judge sentenced Damian R. Raby, 42, to 18 years in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to launder money and obstructing the administration of the internal revenue laws.

In addition to prison, officials said Raby must also pay $2,603,678.04 in restitution to the U.S. Treasury and forfeit an additional $2,045,241.58.

RELATED: Man facing charges for scheme to defraud millions from COVID-19 relief program, officials say

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Raby admitted as part of his guilty plea to devising

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