Date: January 31, 2022 Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio man was sentenced today to 51 months in prison and ordered to pay $345,136.68 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for tax evasion. On September 14, 2018, Robert Steven Powell was found guilty of three counts of tax evasion. According to testimony at trial, Powell was a member of a tax scheme organization that promoted tax evasion. Although Powell earned wages as high as $236,098 per year, he failed to pay income taxes from 2000 to 2013. Powell evaded payment of his federal taxes by submitting false W-4 forms to his employer and claiming he was exempt from federal income tax withholding. Powell also placed a house and recreational vehicle in other names and attempted to conceal his physical address from the IRS by obtaining identification documents from multiple states using false personal residence addresses. "Millions of Americans faithfully pay their income taxes every year," said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. "Those who dodge paying taxes disproportionately burden their fellow citizens and will face the consequences." "Tax evasion is not a victimless crime," said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Donald "Trey" Eakins of the Charlotte Field Office. "Individuals who corruptly violate the law to further their business interests and intentionally evade paying their fair share of taxes undermine public confidence in our tax system." The IRS-CI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney William R. Harris prosecuted the case.
