Convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh faces new tax evasion charges

COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. — Convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh is facing new tax evasion charges.

Murdaugh was indicted last week for two additional counts of willful attempt to evade or defeat a tax, according to the South Carolina attorney general’s office.

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Attorney general Alan Wilson alleges Murdaugh didn’t report more than $2.1 million in income earned illegally in tax years 2020 and 2021.

Murdaugh was already facing 100 tax-related charges from a December 2022 indictment, officials said. Those charges were in reference to tax years 2011 through 2019. The grand jury alleged Murdaugh failed to report nearly $7 million in income earned illegally, meaning his income taxable by the state was underreported by more than $486,000.

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The two indictments allege more than $9 million of unreported income, which is more than $619,000 evaded in state taxes. Between 20 indictments with 101 charges against Murdaugh, the former lawyer is accused of defrauding victims of nearly $8.8 million.

According to the attorney general’s office, willful attempt to evade or defeat a tax is punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000, plus the cost of prosecution.

Earlier this year, Murdaugh was convicted of killing his wife and one of his sons. He’s serving a life sentence for those crimes.

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