Nashville Businessman Sentenced on Sales Tax Evasion and Theft of Property Charges

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Department of Revenue’s Special Investigations Section conducted the investigation that led to the indictment and subsequent guilty pleas of Shadi Mahmoud Eltiti to six counts of felony sales tax evasion and one count of felony theft of property. On Sept. 11, 2008, Eltiti, former partner and manager of E-Z Stop Market T. T. located at 5304 Charlotte Avenue in Nashville, pled guilty and paid $97,677.82 in restitution for unpaid sales tax collected from Nov. 1, 2003 through Aug. 31, 2004. He was sentenced to six years probation and granted judicial diversion on the condition that he successfully completes probation. Additionally, civil taxes, penalties and interest will be due the state.

“The Department of Revenue promotes voluntary taxpayer compliance by educating taxpayers, aggressively pursuing criminal sanctions and demanding accountability when taxpayers engage in fraudulent activity,” said Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr. “This investigation underscores our department’s ongoing efforts to enforce Tennessee’s tax laws.”

This case was pursued criminally by the department in cooperation with Davidson County District Attorney General Victor S. Johnson’s office. Citizens who suspect violations of Tennessee’s revenue laws should call the toll-free tax fraud hot line at (800) FRAUDTX (372-8389).

The Department of Revenue is responsible for the administration of state tax laws and motor vehicle title and registration laws established by the legislature and the collection of taxes and fees associated with those laws. The Department of Revenue collects approximately 92 percent of total state tax revenue. During the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the department collected $11.2 billion in state taxes and fees. In addition to collecting state taxes, $1.9 billion of local sales tax was collected by the department for local governments during the 2007-2008 fiscal year. Besides collecting taxes, the department enforces the revenue laws fairly and impartially in an effort to encourage voluntary taxpayer compliance. The department also apportions revenue collections for distribution to the various state funds and local units of government. To learn more about the department, log on to www.Tennessee.gov/revenue.

Related news: February 12, 2008 – Nashville Businessman Man Surrenders on Tax Evasion Charges (http://state.tn.us/revenue/newsreleases/2008/eltitiarrest.htm)