CFO for Tangredi’s Italian Kitchen Enters Guilty Plea to Tax Evasion and Forgery Charges

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Revenue’s Special Investigations Section conducted the investigation that led to the July 21 guilty pleas to tax evasion and forgery by Michael Gennaro Tangredi, age 20.Tangredi is the Chief Financial Officer for Tangredi’s Italian Kitchen located at 2323 Elliston Place, Nashville, Tenn. 

 

Tangredi plead guilty to a Class D felony count of Forgery in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 39-14-114 for passing forged check to the Tennessee Department of Revenue claiming he paid the sales tax due on behalf of Tangredi’s Italian Kitchen for the month of August 2006. Tangredi knew the check was a forged and that the sales tax due had not been paid. Tangredi was sentenced to three years in the Davidson County jail with all time suspended to probation. He was also fined $500.00 for the violation.

 

Tangredi also plead guilty to a Class E felony count of Sales Tax Evasion in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 67-1-1440(g) for filing false and fraudulent registration documents with the Davidson County Clerk’s Office. Tangredi understated the purchase price of a motor vehicle he was registering which resulted in him evading sales tax totaling $1,356.25. Tangredi was sentenced to two years in the Davidson County workhouse with all time suspended to probation. The sentences for both charges are to be served concurrently. Tangredi is ordered to pay full restitution of the sales tax to the state of Tennessee. Additional penalty and interest will be due the state.

 

“The majority of businesses pay appropriate taxes,” said Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr. “This case serves as a warning to others who think they can get away with tax fraud in Tennessee. We will continue to pursue criminal activity and prosecute tax evaders to maintain fairness in our tax structure for Tennesseans.”

 

This case was pursued criminally by the department in cooperation with the office of District Attorney General Victor S. Johnson, III. 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 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 2009-2010 fiscal year, the department collected $10.2 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 2009-2010 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.TN.gov/revenue.

 

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