In a notable legal development, Milton Grimes, the attorney renowned for representing Rodney King, has been sentenced to 18 months for tax evasion. The case forms part of a broader crackdown by tax authorities on financial misdeeds.
Grimes, instrumental in the legal proceedings against the Los Angeles Police Department following Rodney King’s highly publicized assault, was convicted of evading $7.2 million in taxes over a span of 23 years. This prolonged evasion encompassed both federal and state taxes. The court found that Grimes utilized mechanisms such as trusts and cashier’s checks to evade IRS scrutiny.
The sentencing was delivered by Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr. at the US District Court for the Central District of California. In addition to the prison term, Grimes has been ordered to pay full restitution. This comprises $5.9 million owed to federal authorities and another $1.3 million required by the state of California as per the report by Bloomberg Tax.
Grimes’s actions were described by the court as a “deliberate decision to cheat,” reflecting his misuse of legal tools over decades. This case underscores ongoing efforts by both federal and state tax agencies to ensure compliance and accountability, reminding legal professionals of the serious repercussions that come with financial malpractice.