Tax Lawyer Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Obstructing IRS and Filing False Documents
LOS ANGELES, California – In a shocking case of tax evasion and obstruction of the Internal Revenue Service, 71-year-old tax lawyer Hiram M. Martin was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for his role in filing false tax returns for his client, retired NFL player Antrel Rolle.
Martin, a resident of Fair Oaks, California, pleaded guilty on January 7 to one felony count of attempting to obstruct or impede the administration of internal revenue laws. The three-year prison sentence handed down by United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II is the maximum amount of prison time possible under the law for the offense.
Martin was also ordered to pay $1,223,480 in restitution to the IRS. The tax returns filed by Martin claimed millions of dollars in bogus charitable donations and business expenses, and Martin never informed Rolle about the phony deductions.
The IRS issued tax refunds of $322,008 for the 2005 tax year and $901,472 for the 2006 year as a result of Martin’s deductions. Martin directed the IRS to deposit the refunds into his bank account or to mail the refunds to his mailing address.
When the IRS began auditing Rolle’s tax returns for these years, Martin attempted to cover up his scheme by faxing two letters to the IRS that attempted to support the fraudulent donations. Martin also forged Rolle’s signature on Tax Court petitions and agreed to a judgment that imposed a tax liability of nearly $2 million on Rolle without his knowledge or authorization.
This matter was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander Wyman and Ranee Katzenstein of the Major Frauds Section.
Hiram M. Martin, 71, of Fair Oaks, California, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for attempting to obstruct or impede the administration of internal revenue laws. He was also ordered to pay $1,223,480 in restitution.
The exact criminal charges against Martin are attempting to obstruct or impede the administration of internal revenue laws. Martin was sentenced on an exact date not specified in the source material, but we know he pleaded guilty on January 7 of this year.
The Mandatory Facts for this case are:
- Defendant: Hiram M. Martin
- Criminal Charges: Attempting to obstruct or impede the administration of internal revenue laws
- City and State: LOS ANGELES, California
- Exact Date: January 7 of this year
- Sentence: 36 months in federal prison and $1,223,480 in restitution
- Dollar Amount: $1,223,480
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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