Florida CPA Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

Fort Myers, FL - A Florida Certified Public Accountant pleaded guilty today to evading payment of more than $2.2 million of income tax liabilities.

According to court documents, Ronald St. Clair attempted to hide his assets from the IRS after accumulating tax debts for 2011 through 2017. In 2020, after the IRS notified St. Clair that it intended to levy his assets to collect his unpaid taxes, St. Clair sold real property he owned and transferred the proceeds into a bank account in a third party's name. After transferring these funds out of his own name, St. Clair directed the money for his personal and business use and intentionally failed to disclose these funds and assets while he was seeking a payment plan with the IRS.

St. Clair pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion. His sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, as well as restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida and Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department's Criminal Division made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick L. Darcey of the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Marissa R. Brodney and Aaron I. Henricks of the Criminal Division's Tax Section are prosecuting the case.