Davidson County Man Pleads Guilty to Tax and Theft Charges

NASHVILLE - The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to Thursday’s guilty plea of Mark Stephen Atwell to attempted tax evasion and theft charges.

Mark Atwell, 45, pleaded guilty before Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Cheryl Blackburn. Judge Blackburn ordered Atwell to serve 20 days in the Davidson County Jail, and she ordered him to pay restitution of $3,847.79 to the state of Tennessee. Judge Blackburn also placed Atwell on probation for 11 months and 29 days for each charge.

A Davidson County Grand Jury previously indicted the Atwell in March 2016 on one count of theft, and two felony counts of tax evasion related to filing false boat registration documents at the Davidson County Clerk’s Office and failing to register a boat with the clerk.

“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 Glenn Funk’s office 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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