Paris Store Manager Sentenced for Sales Tax Evasion

PARIS - Dharmesh Patel, 36, manager of JB's Express in Paris, pleaded no contest to one count of sales tax evasion Friday.

Henry County Judge Donald Parish accepted Patel's plea agreement and sentenced him to one year probation. Judge Praish ordered Patel to pay $17,482.67 in restitution to the Department of Revenue and fined him $9,000. The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to Patel's plea and sentencing.

"The Department of Revenue is committed to applying Tennessee's tax laws and policies uniformly to all taxpayers to ensure a level playing field," Revenue Commissioner Richard Roberts said. "The Department cannot and will not allow people engaged in fraudulent tax activities to have a competitive advantage over honest business people."

The Department pursued this criminal case in cooperation with District Attorney Matt Stowe 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).

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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