Two Individuals Charged In Fraudulent Invoice Scheme

Wifredo A Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Michael J. De Palma, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), announce that defendant Francis Maikisch, 49, of Pembroke Pines, and Angel Moran, 46, of Miami, were charged in a 23-count indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, and money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1957. The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of up to $1,999,414.14, the amount of currency involved in the wire fraud and money laundering offenses.

According to the indictment, Maikisch worked for TracFone Wireless, Inc., as a freight supervisor from June 2008 through November 2012. And, between November 16, 2010 and August 28, 2012, Maikisch intentionally caused TracFone to pay, by wire transfer, Moran’s freight company for false and fraudulent invoices submitted by Moran for fictitious shipments. As further alleged in the indictment, TracFone paid Moran’s freight company $1,999,414.14 for the false and fraudulent invoices.

If convicted, the defendants face a possible statutory maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison as to each count of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and 10 years as to each count of money laundering.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CI. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elijah A. Levitt.

An indictment is only an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.