Memphis Bookkeeper Pleads Guilty to Assault of a Department of Revenue Officer

MEMPHIS - Saleh Al-Saigh, 49, a Memphis bookkeeper, pleaded guilty today to assault on a Revenue officer, a Class E felony. The arrest warrant charged Al-Saigh with assaulting a Revenue enforcement officer during phone calls he made to the Department of Revenue.

Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Carolyn Wade-Blackett accepted Al-Saigh’s guilty plea. Al-Saigh will be placed on probation for one year. The Department pursued prosecution of this case in cooperation with Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich and her office.

"It is a felony to assault or even to attempt to intimidate a Department of Revenue employee while in the performance of their duties,” Director of Special Investigations Tommy Sneed said. "In this case, there was a clear threat to cause harm. The Department must protect its employees by vigorously prosecuting those who assault or attempt to intimidate our employees."

The Department of Revenue is responsible for the administration of state tax laws and motor vehicle title and registration laws and the collection of taxes and fees associated with those laws. The Department collects about 87 percent of total state revenue. During the 2014 fiscal year, it collected $11.8 billion in state taxes and fees and more than $2.3 billion in taxes and fees for local governments. To learn more about the Department, visit www.TN.gov/revenue.

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