Milledgeville Man Admits $600K Tax Refund Scam

MILLEDGEVILLE, GA – Maurice Hester, a resident of Milledgeville, Georgia, has confessed to a brazen scheme involving stolen identities and fraudulent tax returns, netting him an attempt to claim over $600,000 in false refunds. Hester entered a guilty plea on April 8, 2013, to a slew of federal charges, admitting to years of defrauding both the government and honest taxpayers.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia, led by U.S. Attorney Michael J. Moore, Hester pleaded guilty to Counts One, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Ten, and Eleven of a Superseding Indictment. Count One charged him with Mail Fraud, a violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 1341, while Count Five detailed Wire Fraud, in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 1343. These charges alone carry a potential sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine, followed by a three-year term of supervised release.

The indictment didn’t stop there. Hester also admitted to filing False Claims Against the Government (Counts Six through Eight, Title 18 U.S.C. Section 287), Theft of Stolen Government Money and Property (Count Ten, Title 18 U.S.C. Section 641), and the particularly egregious charge of Aggravated Identity Theft (Count Eleven, Title 18 U.S.C. Section 1028A). The Aggravated Identity Theft charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years imprisonment, to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed. He’s also facing a $100 assessment for each count.

The scope of Hester’s operation was extensive. He filed fraudulent income tax returns and claims for refunds, culminating in the attempt to fraudulently obtain a refund exceeding $600,000. But he didn’t stop at fake returns in his own name. Hester further compounded the crime by filing tax returns in the names of others, diverting the false refunds directly into his own bank accounts. He also intercepted mail belonging to other taxpayers, specifically targeting U.S. Treasury checks.

“When Mr. Hester committed these acts of fraud and identity theft, he stole from honest tax-paying citizens,” stated U.S. Attorney Moore. The investigation, a joint effort by the United States Secret Service and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, exposed the depth of Hester’s criminal activity. Assistant United States Attorney Graham Thorpe is leading the prosecution. The case is far from closed, but Hester’s guilty plea marks a significant step towards accountability.

Sentencing is currently scheduled for June 25, 2013. Anyone with further inquiries regarding the case is directed to contact Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2601. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the final sentencing and any potential asset forfeiture proceedings.