JIMMY SCOTT CHAMBERS ARRESTED ON SALES TAX EVASION CHARGES
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to today's arrest of Jimmy Scott Chambers on sales tax evasion charges. Special agents of the Tennessee Department of Revenue, assisted by the Cheatham County Sheriff's Office and the Pleasant View Police Department, arrested Chambers, age 43, at his Pleasant View home.
"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."
Chambers was indicted by the Cheatham County Grand Jury on five counts of sales tax fraud. Four indictments charged that Chambers unlawfully and willfully attempted to evade sales tax due the state of Tennessee by filing false vehicle registration documents with the Cheatham County Clerk's Office in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 67-1-1440(g). One count charged that Chambers did hamper, hinder, impede, obstruct, or deprive the state of Tennessee in the collection and realization of its lawful revenue by filing false registration documents on a vehicle in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 67-1-1440(d). The five indictments charged Chambers with evading a total of $7,856.30 in sales tax during the period June 1999 through February 2004.
If convicted, he could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in the state penitentiary and fined $3,000 for each count. Additionally, civil taxes, penalties and interest will be due the state once the criminal case is concluded.
These cases are pursued criminally by the department in cooperation with local district attorneys general.
Citizens who suspect violations of the Tennessee revenue laws should call the toll-free tax fraud hot line at (800) FRAUDTX (372-8389).
The Department of Revenue collects approximately 92 percent of total state tax revenue. During the 2004-2005 fiscal year, the department collected $9.6 billion in state taxes and fees. In addition to collecting state taxes, $1.7 billion of local sales tax was collected by the department for local governments during the 2004-2005 fiscal year. Besides collecting taxes, the department enforces the revenue laws fairly and impartially in an effort to encourage voluntary taxpayer compliance. The department also apportions revenue collections for distribution to the various state funds and local units of government. To learn more about the department, log on to www.Tennessee.gov/revenue.
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