The former president of Miami-Dade’s public hospital network pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion after admitting he failed to pay personal income taxes over multiple years, according to court records.
Darryl Sharpton, who previously led the Public Health Trust, the governing body that oversees Jackson Health System, entered the guilty plea in federal court and faced a maximum sentence of five years in prison. He was also ordered to pay restitution and any applicable financial penalties determined by the court.
Sharpton served as president and chief executive of the Public Health Trust from 2013 to 2015 after joining a leadership team tasked with helping stabilize the financially troubled public hospital system. His tenure followed years of efforts to improve Jackson Health System’s financial condition.
Federal prosecutors alleged that Sharpton failed to pay personal federal income taxes owed for tax years between 2004 and 2008, as well as 2010. Court documents stated that he reported income earned through the Sharpton Group but did not pay the taxes due to the Internal Revenue Service.
At the time of the plea, both sides disagreed on the total financial loss. Sharpton argued the tax loss exceeded $550,000 but remained below $1.5 million. Federal prosecutors contended the amount was substantially higher, estimating the loss at more than $1.5 million but less than $3.5 million.
If the two sides failed to reach an agreement before sentencing, a federal judge would determine the amount after reviewing evidence presented by both the defense and prosecutors.
Jackson Health System was not accused of wrongdoing in the case. The charges involved Sharpton’s personal tax obligations and were unrelated to the operation of Miami-Dade’s public hospital network.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on Dec. 29, 2018, and has been updated for clarity and archival purposes.
