Waterbury Man Charged with Tax Fraud, Making False Statement to Federal Law Enforcement

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in New Haven has returned an indictment charging JOHN B. MAIA, 71, of Waterbury, with four counts of making and subscribing a false federal tax return, and one count of making a false statement to federal law enforcement agents.

The indictment was returned on February 16 and was unsealed today following MAIA’s arrest and initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Thomas P. Smith in Hartford.

The indictment alleges that MAIA overstated deductions for charitable contributions and listed fictitious business expenses on his federal tax returns for the calendar years 2005 through 2008. The indictment further alleges that, on April 14, 2010, MAIA submitted to a voluntary interview with special agents of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. During the interview, MAIA falsely stated that the charitable contributions and business expenses were legitimate and that he had provided supporting documentation for the charitable contributions and business expenses to his tax preparer.

It is alleged that MAIA failed to pay a total of $40,806 in federal taxes from 2005 to 2008.

If convicted, MAIA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of three years on each count of making and subscribing a false return, and a maximum term of imprisonment of five years on the count of making a false statement.

MAIA has been released on a bond in the amount of $25,000.

U.S. Attorney Fein stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Eric Glover and Christopher Mattei.