Taxing Times for 'Shawn the Law': Attorney Indicted for Tax Fraud

Shawn Patrick Smith (aka Shawn the Law)Photo byScreenshot / AVVO

Attorney Shawn Smith, also known as “Shawn the Law,” faces charges for allegedly underreporting income and failing to file tax returns for multiple years.

Detroit Grand Jury Indicts Attorney for Falsifying Tax Returns and Failing to File

DETROIT – Shawn Smith, a prominent attorney from Birmingham, Michigan, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Thursday, facing serious allegations of tax evasion and false filings. Smith, who goes by the moniker “Shawn the Law,” is accused of failing to report hundreds of thousands of dollars in income from his legal practice and failing to file tax returns for two consecutive years.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Smith allegedly filed false individual income tax returns from 2017 to 2020, omitting significant earnings from his law business. Furthermore, authorities claim that he did not file income tax returns at all for 2021 and 2022, compounding his legal troubles.

If convicted, Smith could face severe penalties: three years in prison for each count of filing a false return and one year for each count of failing to file. The final sentencing will be determined by a federal judge, considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and additional statutory factors.

High-Profile Case Draws Attention to Tax Evasion Among Legal Professionals

The charges against Smith were announced by Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan, and IRS Special Agent in Charge Charles Miller. The IRS Criminal Investigation unit is actively handling the case, which is expected to highlight ongoing issues of tax evasion among high-income professionals, including those within the legal sector.

The prosecution will be led by Trial Attorneys Jeffrey A. McLellan and Kenneth C. Vert from the Tax Division.

While the charges represent a major legal battle ahead for Smith, it is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation. Smith, like all defendants, remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

This case is part of a broader federal effort to crack down on tax fraud and hold professionals accountable for financial misdeeds, as the IRS continues its investigation into tax non-compliance among affluent individuals.

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