A Jacksonville businessman has been sentenced to 22 months in prison for tax evasion, the Department of Justice announced on Thursday.
According to the DOJ, Phillip Mak, a self-employed sales representative from Neptune Beach, earned more than $10 million from 2008 to 2020.
Because of his earnings, the DOJ states that Mak owned more than $3.7 million in federal taxes “but did not pay them when required to do so.” The IRS had attempted to make contact with Mak, sending him notices and filing a Notice of Federal Tax Lien.
Court documents show that Mak attempted to shield his assets from the IRS by transferring $1 million in cash to his domestic partner’s bank accounts and also by transferring ownership of his personal residence to a trust created by them.
Mak was indicted for the crimes in 2025 and later pleaded guilty in early 2026.
In addition to 22 months in prison, the DOJ says that Mak was sentenced to serve three years of supervised release and is ordered to pay $3,751,485 in restitution.
“Tax evasion isn’t financial strategy—it’s a deliberate choice with predictable consequences,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “Evading your true tax obligation is not a harmless oversight—it’s a serious violation of federal law. IRS Special Agents will follow the money and present the facts in court.”