Edwin Rivera, Theft of Government Property, Florida 2025

Kissimmee Businessman Sentenced to Four Years for Multi-Million Dollar Theft Scheme

Orlando, Florida – In a shocking turn of events, a local businessman has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for orchestrating a multi-million dollar theft scheme. Edwin Rivera, a Kissimmee resident, was found guilty of theft of government property and ordered to forfeit $1,987,457, which is directly linked to the proceeds of the offense.

According to court documents, between October 2023 and July 2024, Rivera and his co-conspirators operated a complex scheme to steal government funds. As part of the scheme, Rivera stole the identity of large corporations and filed fraudulent tax returns with the IRS on behalf of those companies, causing the IRS to generate tax refunds and mail them to Rivera. Rivera then deposited the checks into bank accounts he and his co-conspirators controlled.

As a result of the scheme, Rivera and his co-conspirators attempted to steal nearly $10 million in government funds, with a successful haul of at least four fraudulent tax refunds totaling $2,741,581.74.

The case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Noah P. Dorman led the prosecution.

The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) emphasized the importance of protecting the integrity of the nation’s tax administration system, while the IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge, Karen Wingerd, highlighted the agency’s commitment to finding and prosecuting individuals who engage in financial crimes.

Rivera pleaded guilty on January 16, 2025, and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell. The court’s decision serves as a warning to those who think they can exploit the system for personal gain.

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