Memphis Owner Pleads Guilty to Sales Tax Evasion and Theft Charges
Friday, July 17, 2009 | 07:16am
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Tennessee Department of Revenue’s Special Investigations Section conducted the investigation that led to yesterday’s guilty plea by Jon Kelly Parks, age 40, president of Personal Computer Doctor, Inc., located at 7825 Winchester Road in Memphis.
Parks pled guilty in Shelby County Criminal Court to one Class E felony count of Sales Tax Evasion in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 67-1-1440(g) and one Class C felony count of Theft of Property over $10,000. He was placed on judicial diversion for three years and ordered to make full resitution in the amount of $16,459 for sales tax he collected but intentionally did not remit from July 2003 through Dec. 2005.
“The majority of businesses pay appropriate taxes,” said Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr. “This case serves as a warning to others who think they can get away with tax fraud in Tennessee. We will continue to pursue criminal activity and prosecute tax evaders to maintain fairness in our tax structure for Tennesseans.”
This case was pursued criminally by the department in cooperation with District Attorney General William Gibbons’ 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 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.
Note to media: Photo attached.
Related news: March 24, 2009 – Revenue Investigation Leads to Surrender of Memphis Businessman on Fraud and Theft Charges (http://news.tennesseeanytime.org/node/1126)
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