Isley brother convicted of tax evasion
A federal jury on Monday convicted R&B singer Ronald Isley of multiple counts of tax evasion, a decision that could give Isley 26 years in prison when he's sentenced in January.
Isley, 64, was convicted of five counts of tax evasion and one count of willful failure to file a tax return, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas D. Coker in a statement. Isley will face up to 26 years in prison when he's sentenced Jan. 9.
Isley, who has homes in Los Angeles and St. Louis, pleaded not guilty to the charges last January. Attempts to reach lawyers for Isley Monday were not successful.
Prosecutors said Isley evaded the IRS by demanding cash payments for millions of dollars in performance fees he earned between 1997 and 2002.
He also put homes and a yacht in the names of his then-wife or corporations, and cashed royalty checks belonging to his late brother, O'Kelly Isley, according to the government.