Hamilton County Businessman Pleads Guilty to Sales Tax Evasion

CHATTANOOGA - John Lewis Blewett, 70, president of Mirage Images, Inc., pleaded guilty to one felony count of filing fraudulent Tennessee sales tax returns in Hamilton County Criminal Court Tuesday.

Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Barry Steelman sentenced Blewett to six years supervised probation, and he ordered Blewett to pay $14,400 in restitution to the state for taxes owed. The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to Blewett’s plea and sentencing.

“The Department of Revenue promotes voluntary taxpayer compliance by educating taxpayers, aggressively pursuing criminal sanctions and demanding accountability when taxpayers engage in fraudulent activity," Revenue Commissioner Richard Roberts said. "This investigation underscores the Department's ongoing efforts to enforce Tennessee's tax laws."

The Department pursued the criminal case in cooperation with District Attorney General Neal Pinkston’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 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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