Napoleon Robinson, 65, of Lauderhill, Florida, is headed to federal prison for 18 months after being convicted of evading more than $508,000 in employment taxes. The sentence, handed down today in Norfolk, Virginia, marks the end of a years-long scheme built on deception, shell companies, and outright lies to federal investigators.
Robinson, who owned and operated multiple ship welding and repair businesses across New York and Virginia between 2000 and 2013, stopped paying withheld employee taxes starting in 2005. Instead of settling his debts with the IRS, he dismantled failing companies and launched new ones under the names of nominee owners—his sister, teenage niece, and a close friend. Despite the frontmen, Robinson maintained total control: signing checks, making hires, and directing every financial move.
Court documents reveal a calculated pattern of tax “pyramiding”—using funds from new companies to delay the collapse of old ones while avoiding IRS obligations. As tax liabilities piled up, Robinson repeatedly dodged responsibility. When the IRS finally launched an investigation into his chain of businesses, he didn’t come clean. He lied to Revenue Officers and obstructed collection efforts with false statements and financial smoke screens.
The total employment tax loss to the federal government: $508,000. That figure represents unpaid wages, Social Security, and Medicare withholdings taken directly from workers’ paychecks—money Robinson withheld but never remitted. For over a decade, employees were left in the dark while Robinson cycled through business names to stay one step ahead of federal auditors.
On September 28, 2016, Robinson pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion. Sentencing was delivered by Chief U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith, who also imposed three years of supervised release and ordered full restitution. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney V. Kathleen Dougherty.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Thomas Holloman, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Washington, D.C. Field Office, confirmed the outcome. Court records, including Case No. 2:16-cr-111, are available through the Eastern District of Virginia’s public docket and PACER.
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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