A Mississippi State Representative pled guilty to willfully making a false material statement on a federal income tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge James Dorsey of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Atlanta Field Office.

Earle S. Banks, Sr., 68, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court in Jackson. According to admissions by Banks, he failed to report more than $500,000 of income resulting from the sale of real property. Banks admitted that he was aware of his legal duty to report that income, and instead willfully failed to report that income to the IRS on a 2018 Form 1040X tax return.

Banks also admitted that the United States Attorney’s Office has sufficient evidence to convict him at trial if he had decided to go to trial instead of pleading guilty. It is against federal law to intentionally file false income tax returns which deliberately report less income than a person actually received.

Banks, a funeral director and attorney, has been in the House since 1993. He is a funeral director and attorney. Banks is unopposed as he seeks reelection this year in House District 67 in Hinds County.

Incidentally, conviction of some felony charges can eliminate people from holding public offices in Mississippi, but convictions for manslaughter or violating federal tax laws don’t.

“Mr. Banks made a mistake on his tax return in 2018 and failed to include a capital gain,” his attorney, Rob McDuff, said in a statement to FOX News. “We have cooperated with the IRS and the U.S. attorney’s office as they have looked into this matter, and we will continue that cooperation in moving toward a final resolution.”

Banks is scheduled to be sentenced on August 21, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The IRS is investigating the case.