Rapid City Man Sentenced for Tax Evasion

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Tax Evasion was sentenced by Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Judge.

Joseph Bennington, age 42, was sentenced on April 27, 2020, to 15 months in federal prison, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $124,645.00 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.

“Tax evasion is a serious crime,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “It will be met with a serious federal response, as this prison sentence confirms.”

The conviction stemmed from Bennington failing to make an income tax return, as required by law, and failing to pay income taxes owed by him for the year 2017.  Bennington also failed to file and pay income taxes for tax years 2008-2016, despite earning substantial income during the same period of time. Additionally, Bennington concealed his true income by cashing checks he received from Black Hills Auto Auction Inc. instead of depositing the checks into his bank account.

“Tax evasion is not a victimless crime,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Adam Steiner, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. “Today’s sentence exhibits that the IRS and U.S. Attorney’s Office are duty bound to protect the integrity of the U.S. tax administration system, and to make sure everyone complies with their tax obligations.”

The investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson  prosecuted the case.

Bennington was ordered to self-surrender to the U.S. Marshals Service on June 29, 2020, to begin serving his custody sentence.