Well, yes and no.
Remember Willie later “got his” when the IRS took all he had. If the gubmint don’t get you here - they will get you there.
Willie paid off his IRS debt long before his recent (past couple years) drug infraction. And the national media questioned how the authorities could “hassle” a “legend” like Willie.
Same as the prosecution (and walk) of Billy Joe Shaver for shooting a man in the face at a bar.