Davidson County Man Arrested for Tax Evasion

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Revenue’s Special Investigations Section conducted the investigation that led to the indictment and Thursday’s arrest of Mark Atwell, 45, of Nashville.  Department of Revenue agents arrested Atwell at his home. Bond was set at $5,000.

On March 14, the Davidson County Grand Jury indicted Atwell on one Class E felony count of theft over $1,000 and two Class E felony counts of tax evasion. The indictment’s charge that Atwell filed false registration documents with the Davidson County Clerk’s Office in June 2013 when he registered a 1981 Sumerset houseboat. In December 2013, Atwell purchased a 1985 Sumerset houseboat, and he failed to register the boat with the clerk. He also failed to pay $5,780.67 in use tax.

“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 indictment underscores the Department's ongoing efforts to enforce Tennessee's tax laws."

If convicted, Atwell could be sentenced to a maximum of four years in the state penitentiary and fined up to $5,000.00.

The Department is pursuing this criminal case in cooperation with District Attorney Glenn Funk’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 2015 fiscal year, it collected $12.6 billion in state taxes and fees and more than $2.4 billion in taxes and fees for local governments.

###