Monty Ervin, a self-proclaimed ‘Governor’ of Alabama, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy and tax evasion. Ervin, along with his wife Patricia Ervin, the owners of Southern Realty in Dothan, Ala., were found guilty of defrauding the United States and evading taxes.
A federal jury in Montgomery, Ala., convicted the Ervins of one count of conspiracy and three counts of tax evasion. Patricia Ervin was also convicted of structuring transactions to avoid bank reporting requirements.
Monty Ervin was sentenced to 120 months in prison, while Patricia Ervin received five years of probation, with the condition that she spend 40 consecutive weekends in jail. The court found that Monty Ervin was the leader and organizer of the conspiracy and exercised control over Patricia Ervin.
The Ervins amassed hundreds of investment properties over the last decade, receiving more than $9 million in rental income. However, they paid no federal income taxes despite their substantial income.
When confronted by the IRS in 2006, the Ervins proclaimed that they were not United States citizens and instead claimed to be ‘sovereigns’ not subject to federal or state law. They even filed documents in probate court renouncing their U.S. citizenship and had a license plate on their vehicle associated with a ‘sovereign citizens’ organization.
The Ervins used their property management company, Southern Realty, to conceal their assets from the IRS by placing investment properties into the names of nominees. They also structured deposits into the company’s bank account to evade federal currency reporting requirements.
As part of their sentence, the Ervins were also ordered to pay $1,436,508 in restitution. The sentencing of the Ervins serves as a warning to those who attempt to defy the tax laws and highlights the consequences of tax evasion and conspiracy.
Related Federal Cases
- Tax Cheat Gets 18 Months for $1.2M Scam · Alabama
- Tax Cheat Gets 18 Months: $1.2M Scam · Alabama
- Metairie Fraudster Gets 43-Month Sentence in $10M Tax Scam · Alabama
- Montgomery Woman Accused of Stealing Tax Refunds by Identity Theft · Alabama
- Alabama State Worker Pilfered Identities for $1.7M Tax Scam · Alabama
Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Tax Evasion
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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