The federal case shows how income generated through digital platforms remains subject to the same scrutiny and obligations as traditional earnings.
TAMPA, Florida — Kylie Perez, an OnlyFans creator known professionally as “Natalie Monroe,” has been sentenced to one year in federal prison for filing a false tax return. U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber also ordered her to complete one year of supervised release after leaving prison. Perez pleaded guilty to the offense on May 20.
Federal court documents state that Perez earned more than $5.4 million through her social-media accounts between 2019 and 2023. OnlyFans creators can generate revenue through subscriptions, pay-per-view material and tips from their followers. Prosecutors said Perez filed a false return for 2019 and failed to pay at least $1.5 million in federal taxes owed between 2020 and 2023.
Her taxable income reportedly exceeded $1.6 million in 2020 before reaching approximately $2.13 million the following year. It later declined to nearly $1.09 million in 2022 and about $602,500 in 2023. The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation division and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
The sentence highlights the growing financial oversight surrounding creators who build highly profitable businesses through subscription platforms. Digital income may emerge from unconventional business models, but it remains visible to payment processors and tax authorities. Online fame can generate extraordinary wealth, yet no digital platform places its creators beyond the reach of financial accountability.
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