Davidson County Market Owner Arrested For Sales Tax Evasion and Theft
Nashville, Tenn. - The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to today's arrest of Nabih H. Zaher on charges of sales tax evasion and theft. Zaher, age 55, was arrested by Special Agents of the Tennessee Department of Revenue at NSP Discount Beer & Tobacco, 3002 Clarksville Pike, in Nashville. Bond for Zaher was set at $25,000.
On March 15, 2013, Zaher was indicted by a Davidson County Grand Jury on 19 Class E felony counts 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 in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 39-14-103. The indictments charge that Zaher collected sales tax from customers and failed to remit sales tax due of $35,419.85.
If convicted, Zaher could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in the state penitentiary and fined up to $3,000 for each count of sales tax evasion and be sentenced to a maximum of six years and fined up to $10,000 for the theft of property count.
"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 Richard H. Roberts. "This investigation underscores the department's ongoing efforts to enforce Tennessee's tax laws."
Commissioner Roberts expressed his appreciation for the excellent cooperation the department has enjoyed with District Attorney General Victor S. (Torry) Johnson and his staff. Citizens who suspect violations of Tennessee's revenue laws should call the toll-free tax fraud hot line at (800) FRAUDTX (372-8389).
In addition to collecting state taxes, over $2.0 billion of local sales and business taxes were collected by the department for local governments during the 2012 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.
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