A Riverside County man has agreed to plead guilty to filing false income tax returns after selling memorabilia signed by Marvel Comics publisher Stan Lee and failing to report more than $1.2 million in sales proceeds. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced Thursday that Mac Martin Anderson, 59, of Corona, has admitted to two counts of willfully subscribing to a false tax return, a felony carrying a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each charge.
Between 2015 and 2018, Anderson maintained a personal relationship with Stan Lee and took advantage of this connection by selling signed Marvel-related items. The memorabilia was sold to various dealers, brokers, and fans at comic conventions, where Anderson received payments in the form of cash and checks. These payments were considered taxable income by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), but Anderson failed to report the income on his tax returns.
For the years 2015 through 2018, Anderson’s total income from memorabilia sales was substantial, amounting to approximately $289,460, $452,269, $414,166, and $80,590, respectively. In total, Anderson admitted to profiting about $1,236,485 in reportable income from the memorabilia sales, which resulted in an unpaid tax liability of around $482,833.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed that as part of his plea agreement, Anderson has agreed to pay restitution to the IRS for the full amount of his unpaid tax liability, which totals approximately $482,833. This restitution is part of his effort to resolve the charges and correct the financial wrongdoing.
As a result of his actions, Anderson now faces criminal charges for his role in tax fraud, but his guilty plea and agreement to pay restitution may influence the sentencing. Anderson’s case highlights the importance of properly reporting all sources of income, including earnings from non-traditional ventures such as memorabilia sales. The case also serves as a reminder that the IRS remains vigilant in tracking income and ensuring that individuals meet their tax obligations.
The IRS and U.S. Attorney’s Office continue to investigate such cases of tax fraud and encourage individuals to report any suspicious financial activity to help maintain integrity in tax reporting.
