The former Hennepin County chief public defender who resigned amid an investigation indicting him on 17 counts of federal tax evasion pleaded guilty Monday morning.
Kassius Benson appeared in U.S. District Court, admitting before Judge John R. Tunheim that he failed to pay taxes withheld for employees at his Minneapolis-based criminal defense firm, Kassius Benson Law, before taking his public job in January 2021.
As part of his plea deal, Benson must pay the Internal Revenue Service $213,591.81 in restitution. In exchange for pleading guilty to one count of failing to account for and pay over employment taxes, the remaining 16 charges will be dismissed at sentencing in April.
Tunheim said the maximum penalty for the felony offense is up to five years in prison, but he added that the court doesn't typically impose the maximum. The judge asked Benson if he was aware that he will lose the right to hold public office with the felony conviction.
"I'm aware, Your Honor," he said.
Benson's comments in court were mostly brief, yes or no answers. He sat flanked by three attorneys — Daniel Adkins, Edward Ungvarsky and Andrew Wise. In a near empty courtroom gallery his partner, who didn't wish to be named, sat in the front row.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Lin and Assistant Chief Matthew J. Kluge, who both work in the Justice Department's Tax Division, prosecuted the case and negotiated the plea deal with Benson's legal team.
Before going over facts of the plea, Benson provided some background on his life. He said he was 52, born in Columbus, Ohio, and grew up in Minot, N.D. He earned his law degree from the University of Minnesota and said he is currently employed.
