REVENUE INVESTIGATION RESULTS IN GUILTY PLEA OF DAVIDSON COUNTY BUSINESS OWNER ON SALES TAX EVASION CHARGES

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Mary Lisa Jordan, 42, owner of Shooter's Sports Bar & Grill located at 5851 Old Hickory Blvd. in Hermitage, Tenn., pleaded guilty today to felony charges of sales tax evasion. Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Monte Watkins sentenced Jordan to two years supervised probation and ordered her to immediately pay restitution to the state of Tennessee of $11,125.89. The Department of Revenue also will seek additional civil fines and penalties from Jordan.

On June 22, 2005, special agents of the Tennessee Department of Revenue arrested Jordan, after the Davidson County Grand Jury returned a 38-count sealed indictment relating to evasion of sales tax due the state of Tennessee. The indictments charged that Jordan knowingly did hamper, hinder, impede, obstruct, or deprive the state of Tennessee in the collection and realization of its lawful revenue, by filing false sales tax returns during the period May 1999 through June 2002. The filing of false sales tax returns by Jordan was in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 67-1-1440(d).

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

Citizens who suspect violations of the Tennessee revenue laws should call the toll-free tax fraud hot line at (800) FRAUDTX (372-8389).

These cases are pursued criminally by the department in cooperation with local district attorneys general.

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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