Goodlettsville Business Owner Pleaded Guilty to Forgery and Sales Tax Evasion

Nashville, Tenn. - Martha Smith, 30, part owner of Dougie Ray’s Bar and Grill in Goodlettsville, pleaded guilty to one count of forgery and one count of tax evasion in Davidson County Criminal Court Thursday.

Davidson County Judge Seth Norman sentenced Smith to two years of probation for a Class D felony and one year of probation for a Class E felony. The sentences will run concurrently for a period of two years.

On June 9, a Davidson County Grand Jury indicted Smith on one Class C felony count of forgery and one Class E felony count of tax evasion. The forgery indictment charged that on January 10, Smith gave a forged cashier’s check to the Department of Revenue, on behalf of Dougie Ray’s Bar and Grill, for $10,000.

The Department pursued this criminal case in cooperation with District Attorney Glenn Funk and his staff. 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 and the collection of taxes and fees associated with those laws. The Department collects about 87 percent of total state revenue. During the 2013 fiscal year, it collected $11.7 billion in state taxes and fees and more than $2.2 billion in taxes and fees for local governments.  To learn more about the Department, visit www.TN.gov/revenue.

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