Sumner County Business Owner Charged with Sales Tax Evasion and Theft

NASHVILLE - The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to the indictment and arrest of Brian Lewis for sales tax evasion and theft.  Lewis, 41, surrendered Thursday to Revenue Special Agents at the Sumner County Jail.

On July 6, the Sumner County Grand Jury indicted Lewis, co-owner of Woodland Furniture, on 37 Class E felony counts of sales tax evasion and one Class B felony count of theft of property over $60,000.  The indictments charge that from April 2011 through April 2014, Lewis failed to remit sales tax in the amount of $153,241.33 from sales at Woodland Furniture, located in White House and Portland.  Bond was set at $20,000.

“This investigation will serve as a reminder that retailers are not entitled to use or keep sales tax monies,” Revenue Commissioner Richard Roberts said. “When sales tax revenues are collected by a retailer, they are at all times property of the state or local government, and they must be remitted to the state.”

If convicted, Lewis could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in the state penitentiary and be fined up to $3,000 for each count of attempted sales tax evasion. He could serve a maximum of 12 years in the state penitentiary and fined up to $25,000 for theft of property.

The Department pursued this criminal case in cooperation with District Attorney General L. Ray Whitley 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 2015 fiscal year, it collected $12.6 billion in state taxes and fees and more than $2.4 billion in taxes and fees for local governments.  To learn more about the Department, visit www.tn.gov/revenue.

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