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Eston “Dusty” Melton III, one of Greater Miami’s most influential government relations specialists for decades, may soon see prison time for skirting the IRS.
He pleaded guilty to tax evasion. The U.S. Department of Justice said Melton, 70, failed to pay $1.3 million in taxes between 2005 and 2014. Interest and penalties from that debt grew to $1.7 million.
The DOJ said that Melton also lied to IRS agents “in multiple ways.”
He initially declared himself innocent, but later switched to a guilty plea that could see him serve two to three years behind bars.
His sentencing is on May 16.
– Jesse Scheckner, Florida Politics