Murfreesboro Bail Bondsmen Charged with Bail Bond Tax Evasion, Conspiracy, Money Laundering & Theft

Wednesday, April 08, 2015 | 08:45am

NASHVILLE - The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to the arrests of Daniel Odbert and Christopher Odbert, co-owners of Bad Boys Bail Bonds in Murfreesboro.  Daniel Odbert and Christopher Odbert surrendered to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department today.

Monday, the Rutherford County Grand Jury indicted Daniel and Christopher Odbert on 12 felony counts of money laundering, one felony count of conspiracy to file false tax returns, one felony count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and one felony count of theft of property more than $10,000.  Additional charges for Daniel Odbert include four felony counts of filing false tax returns.  Bond was set at $80,000 for each defendant.

If convicted, Daniel Odbert and Christopher Odbert could be sentenced to a maximum of 12 years in the state penitentiary and fined up to $25,000 for money laundering.  Daniel Odbert could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in the state penitentiary and fined up to $3,000 for each count of attempted tax evasion.

“When bail bond tax is collected from the public and not remitted to the state, it is a breach of public trust and a crime,” Revenue Commissioner Richard Roberts said. “The Department of Revenue aggressively pursues criminal sanctions and demands accountability for these actions.”

The Department pursued this criminal case in cooperation with District Attorney Jennings Jones’ 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. 

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