Former Michael Jackson Executive Fined for Not Paying Taxes

Raymone Bain, spokesperson and former general manager of Michael Jackson’s company, was sentenced on Tuesday to five years in prison for failing to pay taxes. Thanks to the judge—and because he had no criminal record—he was able to receive parole. However, he must pay a $200,000 fine.

In June of this year, he pleaded guilty to two counts of tax evasion covering the years 2006 to 2008. During that time, he was employed by Michael Jackson. He said the reason he didn’t pay taxes was his preoccupation with the health of his mother, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s, and the heavy workload from working for Michael Jackson.

The prosecutor said that Bain’s monthly salary as general manager and representative of Michael Jackson’s company was equal to $30,000.

Raymone Bain previously worked for celebrities such as tennis player Serena Williams and the mayor of Washington, D.C. His defense attorney said that the tax court harmed his profession because clients do not want to form a business relationship with someone who is dealing with legal problems.

Bain was appointed as Michael Jackson’s spokesperson in 2003 and began his work with the team as general manager in 2006. He said he played a role in negotiations for releasing the album Thriller 25, obtaining a loan against the Beatles catalog, and the This Is It tour.

In 2009, Bain filed a $44 million lawsuit against his former boss, saying he had not received his share from the This Is It tour contract. Last year, the court ruled his lawsuit lacked legal standing and stripped it of validity.

On Tuesday, when Bain read his request for clemency to the judge, he spoke respectfully about his former boss and called him “the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson.” He also broke down in tears when talking about his mother’s death from Alzheimer’s in 2009.

The judge, however, said that having mental and work-related preoccupations is in no way a reason to evade taxes. He added that Bain definitely had sufficient budget to pay taxes and also had the opportunity to use other people to help him with his affairs.

Source: eMJey.com / CNN