Owner of Outdoor Retailer Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Tax Fraud
A San Antonio woman, Rachel Olivia Markum, has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for tax evasion and aiding and abetting, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.
Details of the Case
Rachel Markum, 41, pleaded guilty to the charges on May 28, 2024. Her husband, Robert Franklin Markum Jr., 47, also faced legal repercussions after pleading guilty to tax evasion on April 1. He was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison on August 28. The couple has been ordered to pay a total of $359,108 in restitution.
Statements from Officials
“This sentencing underscores the serious consequences of defrauding the federal government through false tax returns,” stated U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. He emphasized that the Markums’ actions betrayed the integrity of the tax system by concealing significant income from the IRS.
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Fraudulent Tax Return Submission
Court records reveal that the Markums prepared and submitted a fraudulent Form 1040 joint tax return for the 2016 tax year. The return falsely reported their only income as gross receipts from their business, Camping and Fishing Outlet, totaling $3,530,473. However, Rachel Markum was aware that their actual gross receipts exceeded $4 million.
IRS Response and Consequences
Acting Special Agent in Charge Lucy Tan of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Houston Field Office commented, “Robert and Rachel Markum created false identities and businesses to hide their income from the IRS, but they failed to realize that money always leaves a trail. Their years in prison will give them an opportunity to reflect on their actions.”
