Chester County Man Arrested on Tax Evasion and Theft Charges
HENDERSON - The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to the indictment and arrest of Tammam Naji Alnajjar, owner of Family Market. Alnajjar, 32, was booked into the Chester County Jail in Henderson, Tenn., on Monday.
Last week, a Chester County Grand Jury indicted Alnajjar on one Class E felony count of knowingly depriving the state in the collection of its lawful revenue, one Class E felony count of willfully attempting to evade or defeat sales tax due the State of Tennessee, and one Class C felony count of theft of property.
If convicted, Alnajjar could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in the state penitentiary and fined up to $3,000 for the counts of tax evasion. He could also be sentenced to a maximum of six years in the state penitentiary and fined up to $10,000 for theft.
“Investigations, such as this one, should warn retailers that failing to properly remit all the sales tax monies they collect is a crime,“ Revenue Commissioner David Gerregano said. “The taxes collected from customers are property of the state and local governments at all times. Customers have a right to know that the tax they pay will be remitted to the state and used for public good of all Tennesseans.”
The Department pursued this criminal case in cooperation with District Attorney Jerry Woodall’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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