Robert Barnwell Clarkson (June 4, 1947 – March 1, 2010) was an American tax protester in South Carolina.
Early life
Clarkson was born in Camden, South Carolina, the son of James S. H. Clarkson, Jr. of Sumter, South Carolina and Frances Dargan Clarkson of Camden, South Carolina. He graduated Sumter High School (then known as Edmunds High School) in the class of 1965 and then graduated in 1969 from Clemson University with a bachelor of arts degree in economics. He served as a platoon leader in the Vietnam War. Clarkson graduated from South Carolina Law School in 1974.
Lawyer misconduct
Clarkson was brought up on lawyer misconduct charges in 1976 and in 1977 was indicted on numerous accounts of preparing fraudulent tax returns and presenting false claims to the United States Department of the Treasury. In 1978, his lawyer misconduct hearings were concluded at the South Carolina State Supreme Court and he was disbarred.
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Clarkson had two federal tax-related criminal convictions. He was given a suspended sentence with five years probation, under the condition that he not become involved with income tax schemes.
