Jacksonville Minister Pleads Guilty to Obstructing IRS Tax Collection Efforts
A Jacksonville minister has pleaded guilty to obstructing the IRS’ efforts to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid taxes, federal authorities announced Wednesday.
According to court documents, Brian Kern Jr. operated several service organizations, including Healing House Ministries, Inc., Brian Kern Ministries, Inc., and Kingdom Culture City Churches. Prosecutors said Khan filed a tax return in 2015 reporting more than $1.4 million in income and more than $600,000 in tax debt, but failed to pay the amount owed.
In 2016, Khan allegedly tried to hide his true income when the IRS issued a lien on his bank account to collect unpaid taxes. Prosecutors said he amended his 2015 tax return and incorrectly deleted nearly $1.3 million in previously reported income. To assist with this change, Mr. Khan hired a new accountant and submitted a fictitious backdated employment contract listing a salary of $120,000 and a chaplaincy allowance of $24,000. He is said to have told his accountant that this was his total income for the year, even though he knew his actual income was much higher.
According to court filings, Mr. Khan provided similar misleading income information on credit applications, financial accounts, and rental documents, while continuing to earn significantly more income through his ministries.
Federal prosecutors alleged that Mr. Khan continued to file returns based on fabricated income agreements and significantly underreported his income. Starting in 2020, he stopped filing tax returns entirely, even as he withdrew his income and used ministry funds to cover personal expenses.
The Justice Department said Khan made “numerous false statements and material omissions” intended to conceal assets and mislead investigators when the IRS sought to pursue unpaid taxes.
Federal officials estimate his actions cost the United States between $550,000 and $1.5 million.
Mr. Khan faces a maximum sentence of three years in federal prison.
The IRS Criminal Investigation Division handled the investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General David Giserson and Trial Attorney Max Wilner Giwerk of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, with assistance from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. Assistant Attorney General A. Theisen Duba announced the plea.
