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October 26, 2021

Georgia Man Convicted for a $165 Million Scheme to Defraud the U.S. Government

On August 18, 2021, in the Middle District of Georgia, Marquet Antwain Burgess Mattox was found guilty of nine counts of wire fraud, 10 counts of false claims against the U.S. Government, and one count of theft of government funds. Mattox participated in a scheme to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and to obtain money by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and omissions. Mattox was charged in a 20-count indictment on September 17, 2020.

According to the court documents, beginning no later than September 10, 2016, and continuing through at least August 10, 2018, Mattox filed and caused to be filed false and fraudulent IRS Forms 1041, U.S. Income Tax Returns, for tax years 2015 through 2017, for 12 entities. On at least 30 different IRS Forms 1041, U.S. Income Tax Returns, Mattox falsely claimed the entity had earned "interest" income. He also claimed Federal income taxes had been withheld and paid to the IRS, thereby entitling the trusts to refunds. Mattox falsely and fraudulently claimed approximately $165,212,271 in tax refunds for these purported trusts.

Between on or about September 22, 2016, and on or about November 7, 2017, Mattox did willfully and knowingly steal and convert to his own use, approximately $2,897,192.74, in Federal income tax refunds issued by the IRS to one of the 12 entities named Burgess Mattox Bey Investment Trust.

Mattox faces a maximum of 35 years' imprisonment, supervised release, and could potentially pay restitution and an assessment.

    Source:  The facts in this case narrative come from the following publicly available documents: M.D. Ga., Verdict, filed August 18, 2021; M.D. Ga., Indict., filed September 17, 2020; and DOJ Press Release, published August 19, 2021.