The owner of a local tax company is being fined thousands of dollars because he littered the streets with hundreds of signs in , but the man told the court Thursday he couldn't pay because the IRS has seized his assets.

Local business owner Abner Charles is accused of placing hundreds of signs in unauthorized locations across the city. Police said Charles is under investigation for tax fraud and identity theft.

On Thursday, he tried to use that information to get pity from a judge, said Channel 9’s Myrt Price.

“Yes, indeed,” said Charles. “I come to beg and plead for mercy and grace."

That was Charles' response when a judge asked him to enter a plea on 20 city ordinance violations.

He received those citations after he illegally put up signs advertising his tax business.

The judge told him he needed to plead guilty, not guilty or no contest.  Eventually, Charles pleaded guilty.

“Yes, I surrender to the Department of Justice, and I plead guilty,” he said.

Charles was then slapped with $3,400 fine. But when the judge asked if he could afford to pay $45 a month, Charles said he couldn’t.

“The Department of IRS seized everything we have, our bank account, pretty much everything we have,” Charles said. “My family and I, we have nothing left.  Only $20 I have in my pocket.”

Even though his business was raided by IRS and police, Charles still claims to be innocent.

“Each and everything we do, we do it according to the law and regulations,” he said.

When Price asked if Charles was done hanging signs, he replied, “I claim the fifth."

By pleading guilty, Charles avoided possible jail time and thousands more in fines.  

However, he’s due in court again to face a judge on more alleged violations.