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Alexander Smirnov, a former FBI informant, has recently pleaded guilty in a serious bribery scheme involving outgoing President Joe Biden and his controversial son, Hunter Biden. Smirnov is accused of spreading misinformation about the president’s son in order to further the Republican agenda.
According to court records, Smirnov and his legal team officially filed documents in a California federal court agreeing to enter into a guilty plea. During the hearing, the judge accepted the guilty plea and scheduled another hearing for Jan. 8. As part of his guilty plea, Smirnov admits to tax evasion and officially filing a fictitious record.
Smirnov admits that he told FBI agents that the Ukrainian energy company, Burisma, paid both Joe Biden and Hunter Biden $5 million each.
This claim was extremely impactful, as it became one of the central allegations in a Republican impeachment inquiry in Congress. Smirnov further admits that the false claims were made both in 2020 and in 2023 to specifically promote a “false narrative” regarding Burisma and Hunter Biden.
Smirnov was originally arrested in Las Vegas in February regarding the false claims, but investigators looking into the suspect also determined that Smirnov had failed to report over $2 million in income in recent years. As a result, they immediately added on three charges of tax evasion. His charges could result in a maximum of 35 years behind bars, but Smirnov has suggested a sentence of four to six years in federal prison in his plea deal negotiation.
A hearing to be held in the future will determine whether a judge accepts those terms or suggests a different sentence.
You might think that your tax situation is more of a recommendation than a legal requirement, but it is considered a crime in Las Vegas to willfully attempt to evade or defeat a legally imposed tax.
What’s more, this type of criminal charge is a felony offense. A conviction could result in up to five years in federal prison and fines of up to $100,000.
Typically, the IRS doesn’t want to pursue criminal charges. That said, they’re willing to take your case to criminal court if you continuously refuse to pay what you owe and you have the ability to do so.
Are you worried that your tax situation could result in criminal charges? Have you recently been arrested? Here at LV Criminal Defense, our team of highly qualified legal advocates will help you unpack what happened and work towards creating a solid defense strategy to fight against tax evasion charges. Some of the most common defense strategies include arguing that you never intended to evade your tax obligations, the IRS has inadequate evidence to prove you willfully attempted to avoid your taxes, or you were incorrectly assessed and don’t owe what the IRS is claiming.
Are you ready to get started on your legal defense strategy? Contact our team now to schedule a case evaluation.
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