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Former Jackson County Attorney John C. Carnes Sentenced to 21 Months for Tax Evasion
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KANSAS CITY, Mo.- A federal judge on Monday sentenced former Jackson county attorney and politician John C. Carnes to 21 months in prison.Carnes was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $794,540.
Carnes pleaded guilty in November 2024 to tax evasion. He admitted to attempting to avoid paying personal income taxes for the years 2012 through 2018. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kansas City, Missouri, Carnes kept income within his attorney trust accounts and withdrew cash from these accounts to cover personal and business expenses.
An attorney trust account is a bank account where a lawyer has a fiduciary duty to hold property belonging to clients or third parties, including prospective clients. These funds are held in connection with legal representation and are seperate from the lawyer’s own assets.
The Internal Revenue Service had been continuously engaged in various investigative and enforcement activities concerning Carnes’ outstanding tax liabilities.
Understanding Tax Evasion and Attorney Trust Accounts
Tax evasion is a serious federal crime involving the illegal non-payment of taxes. Individuals found guilty can face notable penalties, including imprisonment and substantial fines. Attorney trust accounts,also known as IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts) accounts,are crucial for maintaining ethical financial practices in the legal profession. They ensure client funds are kept separate from an attorney’s personal or business funds,preventing commingling and safeguarding client assets.
Frequently Asked Questions About John C. Carnes’ Tax Evasion Case
- What crime did John C. Carnes plead guilty to?
- John C. Carnes pleaded guilty to tax evasion.
- What was the sentence given to John C. Carnes?
- John C. Carnes was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison.
- How much restitution was John C. Carnes ordered to pay?
- John C. Carnes was ordered to pay $794,540 in restitution.
- For which tax years did Carnes attempt to avoid paying taxes?
- Carnes attempted to avoid paying personal income taxes for the tax years 2012 through 2018.
- How did Carnes attempt to evade taxes?
- Carnes kept income in his attorney trust accounts and withdrew cash from them to pay personal and business expenses.
- What is the purpose of an attorney trust account?
- An attorney trust account is used to hold client funds separately from the lawyer’s own property, fulfilling a fiduciary duty.
