Tax Fraud Leads to 15-Month Sentence for Camping and Fishing Outlet Owner
A San Antonio woman, Rachel Olivia Markum, has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for tax evasion and aiding and abetting, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas. Markum, 41, pleaded guilty on May 28, 2024, as part of a tax evasion scheme involving her husband, Robert Franklin Markum Jr.
Husband’s Sentence
Robert Markum, 47, pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion on April 1 and was subsequently sentenced to 27 months in federal prison on August 28. Both Rachel and Robert Markum were ordered to pay a total of $359,108 in restitution.
Fraudulent Tax Returns
Court records reveal that the Markums submitted a fraudulent Form 1040 joint tax return to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the 2016 calendar year. The return inaccurately reported their only income as gross receipts from their business, Camping and Fishing Outlet, totaling $3,530,473. However, Rachel Markum was aware that their actual gross receipts exceeded $4 million.
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Government Response
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza emphasized the severe consequences of defrauding the federal government through false tax returns, stating, “By concealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the IRS, this married couple betrayed the integrity of our tax system.”
Acting Special Agent in Charge Lucy Tan of the IRS Criminal Investigation’s Houston Field Office commented on the Markums’ actions, saying, “Robert and Rachel Markum created false identities and businesses to hide their income from the IRS, but they failed to realize that money always leaves a trail. Their years in prison will give them an opportunity to reflect on their actions.”
