Knox County Woman Arrested on Tax Evasion and Theft Charges

KNOXVILLE - The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to the indictment and arrest of Linda Guilliams Bunch, Secretary of Peanuts Bail Bonds, Inc.  Bunch, 63, was booked into the Knox County Jail in downtown Knoxville Wednesday.

A Knox County Grand Jury indicted Bunch and Peanuts Bail Bonds Wednesday on one Class E felony count of knowingly depriving the state in the collection of its lawful revenue and one Class C felony count of theft of property.  Bond for Bunch was set at $25,000.

If convicted, Bunch could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in the state penitentiary and fined up to $3,000 for the count of tax evasion. Bunch could also be sentenced to a maximum of six years in the state penitentiary and fined up to $10,000 for theft.

“It is a felony for bail bond companies to collect bail bond tax from the public and then fail to remit it to the state,” said Revenue Commissioner David Gerregano.  “It is a breach of the public trust, and the Department of Revenue will never quit pursuing criminal sanctions to provide accountability for these actions.”

The Department pursued this criminal case in cooperation with District Attorney Charme Allen’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 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.

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