JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A prominent Jacksonville pastor is publicly admitting he tried to avoid paying more than half a million dollars in federal taxes, according to court records and statements he posted on social media.
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Brian Carn Jr., 37, founder and pastor of Kingdom City Church and leader of Brian Carn Ministries and Healing House Ministries, pleaded guilty last week to a federal tax charge announced by the U.S. Department of Justice. Prosecutors say Carn attempted to conceal more than $1.3 million in income after learning he owed the IRS more than $600,000.
In a live video posted to social media Saturday, Carn told thousands of followers he was taking responsibility for the crime.
“I did plead guilty because I’m taking responsibility,” Carn said. “At the end of the day, it’s my taxes, my name. It’s what the Lord entrusted me with, and I’m responsible to handle everything that he’s blessed me with integrity — and I didn’t.”
Watch the full video below.
Court records show Carn initially reported earning about $1.4 million on his 2015 federal tax return. After learning the tax bill would exceed $600,000, investigators say Carn attempted to amend the return by falsely removing approximately $1.3 million in previously reported income.
According to the plea agreement, the IRS later placed liens on Carn’s properties in an effort to collect the unpaid taxes. Prosecutors say Carn then hired a new accountant and falsely reported his annual income as $120,000.
Investigators also allege Carn made several additional false representations, including:
- Omitting a real property, he received from his grandmother through a quitclaim deed in 2016
- Failing to disclose a Cash App account used to transfer hundreds of thousands of dollars to his personal bank account
- Omitting an investment account in his name
- Failing to report ownership of two vehicles
- Listing his monthly income as $0 from 2017 through 2020
In the video, Carn said he was not blaming anyone else and described the case as a period of personal reflection.
“This is what God is doing in my life,” Carn said. “Identifying things in my life to make sure I have ministerial integrity, financial integrity, relationship integrity, friendship integrity and physical integrity.”
Carn faces a maximum sentence of three years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
News4JAX reached out to Carn and his attorney for comment. His attorney released a statement saying Carn is “genuinely remorseful” and committed to complying with the law and moving forward in a constructive manner.