Former French Rugby International Maxime Mermoz Indicted in €7 Million Tax Fraud Case

Former France international rugby player Maxime Mermoz has been indicted for organized fraud and money laundering as part of a sweeping investigation into a complex network suspected of diverting over €7 million in tax credits and reductions since 2017.
The case, initially uncovered by La Dépêche du Midi and later confirmed by H24 MEDIA, led to a large-scale operation carried out by the Toulouse Criminal Investigation Department, involving nearly sixty officers.

A Sophisticated Network of Shell Companies

On Wednesday, May 15, eleven individuals were taken into custody. Three of them—Mermoz, a 44-year-old disbarred accountant from the Tarn region, and a 55-year-old real estate agent operating between the Paris region, Bordeaux, and the Basque Country—have been formally charged and placed under judicial supervision.

Investigators believe the fraud ring relied on a web of fictitious associations and shell companies to illegitimately obtain public funds via tax incentives linked to charitable donations and domestic service deductions. These funds were subsequently laundered through investments in real estate, the sports and horse racing industries, and various complex financial schemes.

Major Seizures and a Nationwide Coordinated Effort

During the raids, authorities seized a wide array of assets, including luxury goods, cryptocurrency, over €520,000 in bank accounts, and numerous documents and digital devices allegedly demonstrating the inner workings of the network.

The investigation, launched in February 2025 by the Interregional Specialized Jurisdiction (JIRS) in Bordeaux, highlights the coordinated efforts between Tracfin, regional tax authorities, URSSAF, and law enforcement to combat large-scale fraud involving public funds.