Humphreys County Man Charged with Sales Tax Evasion

WAVERLY, Tenn. - The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to the arrest of Ronald F. Marker, age 66, on charges of sales tax evasion and hindering the collection of state revenue. Marker was notified of the charges against him on Dec. 8, 2009, by special agents of the Department of Revenue while serving time in the Dickson County jail for an unrelated crime.

 

On Dec. 7, 2009, Marker was indicted by a Humphreys County Grand Jury on four Class E felony counts of Sales Tax Evasion in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 67-1-1440(g) and four Class E felony counts of Hindering the Collection of State Revenue in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 67-1-1440(d). The indictment charges that between April 11, 2008, and May 12, 2008, Marker submitted motor vehicle titles to the Humphreys County Clerk’s Office for four separate transactions where he intentionally falsified the sales prices of those vehicles which led to the evasion of sales tax in the amount of $8,645.50. If convicted, Marker could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in the state penitentiary and fined $3,000 for each of the eight Class E felony counts.

 

“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 Humphreys County District Attorney Dan M. Alsobrooks. 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 2008-2009 fiscal year, the department collected $10.2 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 2008-2009 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.TN.gov/revenue.

 

View this news release online. Go to www.TN.gov/revenue and click on Newsroom.

 

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