TN.gov Newsroom

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Today Tennessee Department of Revenue special agents arrested Gunvantrai H. Patel, 56, on charges of state sales tax evasion in Knoxville, Tenn., where he resides, and transported him to Nashville. Revenue’s Special Investigations Section conducted the investigation that led to the indictment and today’s subsequent arrest of Patel, former president of Shree Gurudev, Incorporated, doing business as Family Inns of America, located at 3430 Percy Priest Drive in Nashville.

WILLIAM MCGARRITY PLEADS GUILTY TO SALES TAX EVASION AND THEFT CHARGES

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - William McGarrity, 6915 Goodman Rd., Walls, Miss., pled guilty to one Class E Felony count of sales tax evasion, a violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 67-1-1440(d), and one Class C Felony count of theft of property over $10,000, a violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 39-14-103. The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to the Dec. 1, 2006, conviction of McGarrity, age 66. McGarrity is the former owner of two bars — Red Wagon and Cheyanne Country, located at 5275 South Third St. and 1976 East Shelby Dr. in Memphis, Tenn. The investigation for Cheyanne Country covered a 46-month period from Dec. 1, 1999, through Sept. 30, 2003. The investigation for Red Wagon covered a 63-month period from April 1, 1998, through Sept. 30, 2003, with the exception of August 2001.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Department of Revenue’s Special Investigations Section conducted the investigation that led to today’s sentencing of Brian Orr, age 40, for evasion of sales tax and theft over $10,000. Orr, former owner of Casino Liquor, 2271 South Third St. in Memphis, pled guilty to one Class E Felony count of sales tax fraud, a violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 67-1-1440(d), and one Class C Felony count for theft over $10,000, a violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 39-14-103.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - On Nov. 16, Tommy James Hudgins, owner of Affordable Tires, located at 5008 Highway 58 in Chattanooga, pled guilty to four counts of theft of property. The Tennessee Department of Revenue’s Special Investigations Section conducted the investigation leading to yesterday’s guilty plea.

“When sales tax is collected from the public and not remitted, it is a breach of the public trust,” said Commissioner Loren L. Chumley. “The Department of Revenue aggressively pursues criminal sanctions and demands accountability for such actions.”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to Kirk Andrew Fonte Sr. surrendering himself to agents this morning at the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office on charges of evading sales tax.

“The Department of Revenue promotes voluntary taxpayer compliance by educating taxpayers, aggressively pursuing criminal sanctions and demanding accountability when taxpayers engage in fraudulent activity,” said Revenue Commissioner Loren L. Chumley. “This arrest underscores our department’s ongoing efforts to enforce Tennessee’s tax laws.”

ANTHONY RAY VAUGHN PLEADS GUILTY TO SALES TAX EVASION CHARGES

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Today Jason Wade Lane, owner of Mattress Direct, located at 4633 North Lee Highway in Cleveland, pled guilty to 11 counts of sales tax fraud, a violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 67-1-1440(g). The Tennessee Department of Revenue’s Special Investigations Section conducted the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea by Lane, age 26.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Today Andrew Whitney Thompson Sr., president of Cleveland Tire Center, Inc., located at 4699 North Lee Highway in Cleveland, pled guilty to 36 counts of sales tax fraud, a violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 67-1-1440(g). The Tennessee Department of Revenue’s Special Investigations Section conducted the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.

MEMPHIS REVENUE OFFICE WILL HOST SEMINAR NOV. 9

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Department of Revenue will hold its next free bimonthly new business workshop on Nov. 9 from 9 a.m. to noon at the department’s Memphis regional office, located at 3150 Appling Rd. in Bartlett.