Former Memphis Business Owner Arrested on Tax Fraud and Theft Charges

MEMPHIS – The former owner of a Memphis tobacco store, Max Suh, is now facing tax fraud and theft charges. Suh, 45, was booked into the Shelby County Jail on May 21, 2018.  Bond was set at $10,000. Suh is the former owner of Tobacco Max located at 6730 Winchester Road, Memphis, Tennessee. The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to these charges.

On May 8, 2018, a Shelby County Grand Jury indicted Suh on two Class E felony counts of sales tax fraud and one Class B felony count of theft of property over $60,000.

If convicted, Suh could be sentenced to a maximum of twelve years in the state penitentiary and fined up to $25,000 for the theft charge, and up to two years and a $3,000 fine for each of the sales tax fraud charges.

“Investigations such as this one should warn retailers that failing to properly remit all the sales tax money they collect is a crime, “said Revenue Commissioner David Gerregano.  “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 the public good of all Tennesseans.”

The Department pursued this criminal case in cooperation with District Attorney Amy Weirich’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 2017 fiscal year, it collected $13.9 billion in state taxes and fees and more than $2.7 billion in taxes and fees for local governments.  To learn more about the Department, visit www.tn.gov/revenue.

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