DAVIDSON COUNTY PHYSICIAN SURRENDERS ON SALES TAX
EVASION CHARGES

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - On Sept.10, 2007, Alejandro A. Rivas, a Nashville physician, surrendered himself for arrest to the Davidson County Sheriff's Office on charges of sales tax evasion. The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to Rivas’ indictment and surrender.

On Sept. 7, 2007, Rivas was indicted by a Davidson County Grand Jury on one Class E felony count of sales tax evasion in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 67-1-1440(g). According to the indictment, Rivas falsified the purchase price of a 2004 Toyota 4-Runner when he registered it with the Davidson County Clerk’s Office on June 11, 2004. The alleged fraud in this case resulted in a $14,000 understatement of the actual purchase price and Rivas’ failure to remit sales tax totaling $980.

Bond was set at $5,000. If convicted, he could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in the state penitentiary and fined $3,000 for the Class E felony count. Additionally, civil taxes, penalties and interest will be due the state.

“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 Reagan Farr. "This investigation underscores our department's ongoing efforts to enforce Tennessee's tax laws."

This case was pursued criminally by the department in cooperation with the Davidson County District Attorney General Victor S. Johnson’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 established by the legislature and the collection of taxes and fees associated with those laws. The Department of Revenue collects approximately 92 percent of total state tax revenue. During the 2006-2007 fiscal year, the department collected $11.0 billion in state taxes and fees. In addition to collecting state taxes, $1.9 billion of local sales tax was collected by the department for local governments during the 2006-2007 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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