Thread: 3 indicted for tax and immigration fraud

January 29th 2011

Suwanee man one of three indicted for tax and immigration fraud

By Staff

ATLANTA - A Suwanee man, residing in the country illegally, was among three businessmen indicted Friday on federal tax and immigration fraud charges.

Rafael Villereal, Sr., 41, of Suwanee, Rhett Maughon, 48, of Decatur and Marcus Maughon, 46, of Powder Springs operated a business called Atlanta Food Authority, doing business as Atlanta Meat Company, which supplied meat products to restaurants across the Southeast.

The three are accused of filing fraudulent corporate and individual tax returns that failed to state cash wages paid to themselves and their employees. In addition, federal authorities said the three induced illegal aliens to reside in the United States unlawfully by employing them and paying them wages in cash.

Both Rhett Maughon and Marcus Maughon were each released on a $25,000 personal recognizance bond. Villareal was detained by United States Magistrate Judge Russell L. Vineyard after it was established that he is residing illegally in the United States.

"These defendants allegedly paid cash to themselves and to their illegal alien employees and did not report the cash wages to the IRS," said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “By doing so, not only did the defendants violate federal tax laws, but they also violated immigration laws by encouraging and making it more possible for illegal aliens to have the financial means to continue to live illegally in the United States.â€

Bet they didn't pay the taxes due to the state of Georgia or the city sales tax either.

Dixie