In San Antonio today, Richard Molina Soto, owner of RMS & Associates, was sentenced to federal prison for his role in corruptly obstructing the internal revenue laws by failing to pay over $280,000 to the Internal Revenue Service on behalf of his clients, announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Special Agent in Charge William Cotter.
Appearing before United States District Judge David Alan Ezra, Soto was sentenced to 25 months in federal prison, ordered to pay $229,963.14 in restitution and will be placed on supervised release for a period of one year after completing his prison term.
On April 11, 2016, Soto appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Pamela Mathy, Soto pleaded guilty to one count of corruptly endeavoring to obstruct and impede the due administration of the internal revenue laws.
According to court records, from November 2009 to November 2011, Soto convinced his clients that he was a Certified Public Accountant who could prepare their income tax returns. Once the tax forms had been completed, Soto told his clients their balance due and provided them with the option of paying through RMS what they owed the IRS. Ultimately, Soto stole monies from clients who chose to pay through RMS. The total amount which Soto should have, but failed to pay to the IRS on behalf of his clients, was $282,107.01.
Soto will remain on bond pending designation to a federal prison facility.
This case was investigated by special agents with the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney William R. Harris prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
