Miami police say a man in his late 70s spent years posing as a certified public accountant, pocketing more than $500,000 from unsuspecting clients who thought they were squaring things away with the IRS.
Detectives arrested Francisco A. Marrero after alleging he ran a tax operation through a company he held out as a CPA firm. Investigators say Marrero handed clients what looked like official vouchers showing payments to the Internal Revenue Service, but those payments were never actually filed. Authorities are urging anyone who used the business to double-check their tax returns and any IRS payment records.
According to NBC 6 South Florida, Marrero faces charges that include organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, unlicensed public accountancy and money laundering involving a financial transaction. Investigators told the outlet the case opened after multiple victims realized payments they had made to Marrero’s company were not processed by the IRS at all, or were submitted in amounts lower than the checks or ACH transfers they had written.
Business Filings List a Hialeah Address
State records identify Marrero’s company as Mabro Business Consulting & Tax Corp. The Florida Division of Corporations’ public filings list the firm’s registered address as 344 W. 65th St., Suite 204, Hialeah, according to those documents.
How Victims Can Check a Preparer and Report Suspected Misconduct
Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation advises residents to verify the license status of anyone claiming to be a CPA through the agency’s license lookup tool and cautions against hiring unlicensed preparers, per DBPR. The IRS also provides a step-by-step guide for reporting a questionable tax preparer, including the use of Form 14157 and Form 14157-A and instructions on what documentation to gather.
Miami police have asked anyone who believes they may have been affected to contact the Financial Crimes Unit at 305-603-6280 or 305-579-6111, NBC 6 South Florida reported.
What the Charges Mean Under Florida Law
Charges such as organized scheme to defraud and grand theft are felony offenses in Florida that can bring substantial prison terms and fines, depending on the total dollar amount involved. The Florida Communications Fraud Act, referenced in section 817.034 of state law and available on Justia, along with the state’s theft statutes, outlines the penalties prosecutors can pursue. Marrero is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.
Detectives say they suspect there are more victims who have not yet come forward. Anyone who thinks they were caught up in the alleged scheme is advised to keep all receipts, emails and other correspondence, then contact Miami police or use the IRS complaint process noted above.
