San Antonio Accountant Pleads Guilty to Obstructing the IRS

In San Antonio, Richard Molina Soto, owner of RMS & Associates, pleaded guilty to corruptly endeavoring to obstruct and impede the due administration of 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 Magistrate Judge Pamela Mathy this afternoon, 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, who remains on bond pending sentencing, faces up to three years in federal prison.  Sentencing is scheduled for 9:00am on July 5, 2016, before Senior United States District Judge David Alan Ezra.

This case was investigated by special agents with the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney William R. Harris is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.