Los Angeles Attorney Milton Grimes Sentenced to 18 Months for Tax Evasion

Milton C. Grimes, a prominent Los Angeles attorney known for representing Rodney King, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for tax evasion spanning over two decades. He failed to pay federal income taxes for 23 years, amassing a total debt of more than $7.2 million, including $5.9 million owed to the IRS and over $1.3 million to the California Franchise Tax Board. Grimes engaged in deceptive practices to evade tax payments, such as purchasing approximately 238 cashier's checks totaling $16 million to keep his income out of reach from the IRS's collection efforts. Despite multiple attempts by the IRS to collect the unpaid taxes, he continued to underreport his income and avoid payment obligations. U.S. District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr. emphasized the severity of Grimes' actions, stating that tax fraud undermines societal foundations. Grimes pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion in October 2024, acknowledging his failure to pay substantial tax debts.