Brookland Man Sentenced for Tax Evasion Scam

LITTLE ROCK—In a brazen display of financial recklessness, Ronnie Lyn Drummond, 52, of Brookland, has pleaded guilty to tax evasion in a federal court.

Drummond, the owner and operator of an information technology business providing services to various governmental entities, was found to have failed to timely file tax returns for the tax years of 2008 – 2012. When Drummond eventually filed returns for these years, his calculations reflected tax obligations, which he failed to pay.

Between 2014 and 2017, the defendant received gross receipts of $1,044,043.05, including labor and materials. In a blatant attempt to conceal his gross receipts, including income, from the Internal Revenue Service, Drummond cashed the majority of the checks he received.

The tax loss, excluding interest and penalties, is $177,357.98. Drummond was indicted on May 4, 2023, and charged with one count of tax evasion and one count of failure to file taxes. In exchange for his guilty plea to tax evasion, the remaining count was dismissed.

“Law-abiding U.S. citizens who responsibly file their tax returns each year and pay their taxes expect those who won’t, to be held accountable,” said Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “Unlike the vast majority of his fellow citizens, Mr. Drummond chose to conceal income; to not file his tax returns for several years; and to fail to pay the amounts he knew were owed to the Internal Revenue Service.”

Drummond will be sentenced by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr. at a later date. Tax evasion is punishable by not more than five years’ imprisonment, not more than three years’ supervised release, and a fine of not more than $100,000.

“Every U.S. Citizen has the common duty of paying their fair share of taxes, which in turn helps provide for the general welfare and the common defense of this great Nation,” said Christopher J. Altemus Jr., Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Dallas Field Office. “The women and men of IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to bring people to justice who blatantly disregard their civic duty and willfully break the law by evading their taxes.”

The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service with assistance from the Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General.

This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available on-line at https://www.justice.gov/edar.

Follow the office on the formerly known Twitter handle @USAO_EDAR.