Bledsoe County Business Woman Arrested on Sales Tax Evasion

PIKEVILLE - The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to the indictment and arrest of Sybil Marjean Stanley for sales tax evasion. Stanley, 63, surrendered to Revenue Special Agents at the Bledsoe County Detention Center.

On March 28, the Bledsoe County Grand Jury indicted Stanley, co-owner of Duke’s Country Store, on multiple counts of sales tax evasion. Bond was set at $10,000.

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

If convicted, Stanley could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in the state penitentiary and fined up to $3,000 for each felony count of attempted sales tax evasion.

The Department pursued the criminal case in cooperation with District Attorney General J. Michael Taylor 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 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.  To learn more about the Department, visit www.tn.gov/revenue.

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