U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg | U.S. Department of Justice
A man from Apopka, Florida, has been sentenced for tax evasion by U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger. James Fabius King, also known as Douglas Mesadieu, received a 12-month sentence comprising six months in federal prison and six months of home incarceration. Additionally, King has been ordered to pay $546,479 in restitution to the United States.
Court documents revealed that in 2013, King earned an income of $1,758,307 and owed $546,479 in federal income taxes. Between 2014 and 2017, he attempted to evade his tax obligations by using nominee businesses to cover personal expenses and car payments for his Audi R8 sports car valued at $151,890. He also transferred ownership of three luxury vehicles—a Rolls Royce, Aston Martin, and Bentley—to a nominee business.
Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Tampa Field Office stated: “The dishonesty exhibited by the defendant is a clear violation of the laws we all abide by.” He emphasized the collective responsibility towards adhering to tax laws: “While we may not always like it, we each have a responsibility to our country and ultimately to each other. We will not ignore attempts to cheat the tax system for personal gain.”
The investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation unit and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt.
