Former Tipton County Business Owner Pleads Guilty To Tax Charges

COVINGTON - The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to Monday’s guilty plea of Vinod Kumar, 47, to four class E felony tax charges.  Kumar was the managing member of Om Sai Ram Drummonds, LLC, in Tipton County.  Tipton County Judge Joe Walker accepted Kumar’s plea and placed him on 4 years of probation.

On March 2, 2015, the Tipton County Grand Jury indicted Kumar on 16 class E felony counts of sales tax evasion and one Class C felony count of theft of property over $10,000.  The indictments charge that from September 2010 through December 2011 Kumar failed to remit sales tax collected from customers at Drummonds BP, Munford Gas Mart, and Gilt Edge Food Mart.

“Tennessee’s tax structure depends on taxpayers voluntarily complying with the law,” said Revenue Commissioner Richard H. Roberts. “Taxpayers who collect but intentionally do not remit sales tax breach the public’s trust and violate the criminal laws of the State. This case underscores our commitment to rigorous and fair administration of Tennessee’s tax law.”

The Department pursued the criminal case in cooperation with District Attorney General Mike Dunavant 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 2016 fiscal year, it collected $13.5 billion in state taxes and fees and more than $2.6 billion in taxes and fees for local governments.  To learn more about the Department, visit www.tn.gov/revenue.