The U.S. authorities’s tax fraud case towards former Reynolds and Reynolds Co. CEO Bob Brockman has hyperlinks to a lawsuit introduced by some former salesmen greater than twenty years in the past, in keeping with a media report.

The salesmen claimed in a lawsuit that Brockman had not paid commissions and as an alternative diverted some quantity of consumers’ funds to an entity within the Cayman Islands, The Wall Avenue Journal reported Wednesday. That case was settled in 2001, in keeping with the newspaper.

However the lawsuit might have been the beginning of IRS consideration on Brockman, the newspaper reported.

Brockman, 79, was indicted in October and charged with federal tax evasion and wire fraud in what prosecutors say was a scheme lasting two decades to keep away from paying taxes on $2 billion in revenue. He has pleaded not responsible.

The case is pending in federal courtroom in Houston after being transferred there in January from San Francisco, the place the fees initially had been filed.

A competency listening to to find out whether or not Brockman can help along with his protection has been scheduled for June 29. His legal professionals have argued in courtroom filings that Brockman has a prognosis indicative of Parkinson’s illness or Lewy physique dementia that’s progressive and has affected his potential to course of and retain info.

Prosecutors contend {that a} competency listening to is warranted, however have mentioned Brockman’s actions — together with persevering with to guide Reynolds and Reynolds as its chairman and CEO till after he was charged — elevate questions about the defense’s competency claims. The federal government additionally famous in courtroom filings that Brockman’s docs all have ties to the Baylor School of Drugs in Texas, to which Brockman has given tens of hundreds of thousands of {dollars}.

The Wall Avenue Journal interviewed former staff and relations of Brockman. His brother, Dave Brockman, informed the newspaper that his brother “went out to make one thing of himself” after rising up in Florida and that the 2 haven’t been in shut contact for years. Brockman would begin Common Pc Programs, which merged with dealership administration system supplier Reynolds and Reynolds in 2006.

Brockman was described as intently concerned with the corporate he ran and hiring staff, in keeping with The Wall Avenue Journal.

He was identified to fireplace staff at random, a former government, Bobby Tyson, informed the newspaper. Tyson informed the newspaper he remembered Brockman asking him, “When was the final time you shot any individual between the eyes?” which was a reference to such an motion. Tyson, who mentioned he admires Brockman, mentioned he had participated in a random firing, although reluctantly, in keeping with the newspaper.

The Wall Avenue Journal reported that Brockman’s legal professionals didn’t reply to questions for the story. His attorneys didn’t instantly reply to an emailed message searching for remark Wednesday from Automotive Information.