Derek Chauvin Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion Charges
Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, pleaded guilty to two counts of tax evasion in Washington County District Court on Friday.[0] In addition, his ex-wife Kellie May Chauvin pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding and abetting their failure to file tax returns for 2016 and 2017.[1]
Chauvin and his spouse at the time were accused of numerous counts of supposedly not declaring their income to Minnesota and not submitting Minnesota tax returns.[2] It was claimed that the Chauvins had not accurately reported their combined income for the years 2014 to 2019, with a total of $464,433 being under-declared.[2] This negligence resulted in an obligation to pay $37,868 in taxes, along with penalties and interest.[3]
The tax investigation began in June 2020 after a tip was submitted to the Minnesota Department of Revenue.[2] The investigation eventually revealed that the Chauvins had not submitted state tax returns for 2016, 2017, or 2018, and had failed to report all of their income for 2014 and 2015. When tax returns for 2016 through 2019 were filed in June 2020, the Chauvins did not report all of their income in those years either.
Chauvin was sentenced to 13 months in prison for tax evasion, a sentence for which he has already served credit.[4] Chauvin, who is currently in prison in Tucson, Arizona, serving a 22-and-a-half-year sentence for Floyd’s murder, appeared in court via Zoom.[5] District Court Judge Sheridan Hawley gave him credit for time already served.[6]
Kellie May Chauvin pleaded guilty in a plea deal that will ensure she does not go to prison.[7] It is probable that she will receive a sentence of three years of probation and a maximum of 45 days of community service.[2] She is expected to pay restitution in excess of $38,000.[6] The date of her sentencing hearing has been set for May 12.[6]
In July 2022, Derek Chauvin was given a sentence of 21 years in prison on federal charges for infringing upon George Floyd's civil rights when Floyd was killed in May 2020. He was also convicted of breaking Floyd's civil rights under federal law and was given a 21-year sentence. He is serving the sentences at the same time.[2]
The former police officer responsible for the murder of George Floyd, Derek Chauvin, has now pleaded guilty to tax evasion, adding “tax cheat” to the list of his negative attributes.[1]
0. “Derek Chauvin pleads guilty to tax evasion” MinnPost, 17 Mar. 2023, https://www.minnpost.com/glean/2023/03/derek-chauvin-former-minneapolis-police-officer-convicted-of-murdering-george-floyd-pleads-guilty-to-tax-evasion/
1. “Convicted Murderer Derek Chauvin Admits To Being A Tax Cheat, Pleads Guilty To His Latest Federal Crime” 93.1 WZAK, 18 Mar. 2023, https://wzakcleveland.com/4536649/convicted-murderer-derek-chauvin-admits-to-being-a-tax-cheat-pleads-guilty-to-his-latest-federal-crime/
2. “Derek Chauvin, the officer convicted of killing George Floyd, pleads guilty in tax case” WTAE Pittsburgh, 17 Mar. 2023, https://www.wtae.com/article/derek-chauvin-guilty-tax-evasion-george-floyd/43349273
3. “Derek Chauvin Pleads Guilty in Tax Evasion Case” CPAPracticeAdvisor.com, 17 Mar. 2023, https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2023/03/17/derek-chauvin-minneapolis-officer-who-killed-george-floyd-pleads-guilty-in-tax-case/78029/
4. “Derek Chauvin, ex-police officer convicted of killing George Floyd, pleads guilty to tax evasion” UPI News, 17 Mar. 2023, https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2023/03/17/Derek-Chauvin-tax-evasion-George-Floyd/3141679079200/
5. “George Floyd murderer, Derek Chauvin, pleads guilty in tax case” The Business Journals, 17 Mar. 2023, https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2023/03/17/derek-chauvin-pleads-in-tax-case.html
6. “Ex-cop who killed George Floyd is sentenced on tax evasion charges — but gets entire sentence credited to time served” Law & Crime, 17 Mar. 2023, https://lawandcrime.com/live-trials/live-trials-current/george-floyd/ex-cop-who-killed-george-floyd-is-sentenced-on-tax-evasion-charges-but-gets-entire-sentence-credited-to-time-served/
7. “Disgraced Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin Pleads Guilty to Federal Tax Evasion” lovebscott.com, 17 Mar. 2023, https://www.lovebscott.com/disgraced-minneapolis-police-officer-derek-chauvin-pleads-guilty-federal-tax-evasion
