Fort Pierce Tax Man Gets 81 Months for EITC Scam

FORT PIERCE, FL – Rony Maurival, 39, of Fort Pierce, Florida, is headed to federal prison for nearly seven years after admitting to a brazen scheme to defraud the United States government through false tax returns and outright identity theft. Maurival was sentenced today to 81 months incarceration, followed by three years of supervised release. The court also ordered him to pay a hefty $349,992.00 in restitution to the IRS.

The case, spearheaded by Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-CI, reveals a calculated operation run through Maurival’s business, “RJ’s Tax & Services.” From July 2008 to March 2012, Maurival systematically inflated clients’ income information on their tax returns, specifically targeting the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is a lifeline for low to moderate income taxpayers, and Maurival exploited it for personal gain.

Court documents detail how Maurival didn’t stop at defrauding the system through his clients. He also filed false returns for himself, failing to report over $250,000 in tax preparation fees earned between 2009 and 2010. But the scheme deepened further: Maurival actively stole identities to file fraudulent tax returns, diverting the ill-gotten refunds into accounts he personally controlled. The total tax loss to the IRS is estimated to be between a staggering $1 million and $2.5 million.

Maurival pled guilty on November 17, 2014, to four counts related to filing false tax returns, one count of theft of government funds, and the serious charge of aggravated identity theft. These aren’t simple accounting errors; this was a deliberate, multi-faceted criminal enterprise designed to steal from American taxpayers. The sheer scope of the fraud suggests a level of sophistication and disregard for the law that earned Maurival a significant prison sentence.

“This case demonstrates the IRS’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting those who abuse the tax system for personal gain,” stated Special Agent in Charge Jackson. The investigation was a collaborative effort, with Assistant United States Attorney Russell R. Killinger and Department of Justice Tax Division Trial Attorney Charles M. Edgar, Jr. handling the prosecution. This isn’t just about money; it’s about holding accountable those who prey on a system designed to help those who need it most.

Those seeking further information can find the Department of Justice press release at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Court documents are available through the District Court for the Southern District of Florida website at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

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