Former Greeneville Business Owner Found Guilty on Sales Tax Evasion, Money Laundering and Theft Charges

GREENEVILLE – The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to Wednesday’s guilty verdict of Jerry Reginald Burkes. Burkes, 50, is the former owner of Preeminent Skate Specialty, a tobacco store in Greeneville. Burkes was found guilty in a Greene County Criminal Court on 12 counts of sales tax evasion, one count of money laundering and one count of theft over $60,000. A sentencing hearing is set for June 1. Burkes could be sentenced up to a maximum of two years in the state penitentiary for each count of sales tax evasion, and he could be sentenced for up to a maximum of 12 years for each of the other counts.

“The Department of Revenue promotes voluntary taxpayer compliance by educating taxpayers, aggressively pursuing criminal sanctions and demanding accountability when taxpayers engage in fraudulent activity," Special Investigations Director Tommy Sneed said. "This investigation underscores the Department's ongoing efforts to enforce Tennessee's tax laws and to ensure Tennesseans that sales tax money they pay retailers is properly accounted for." 

The Department pursued the criminal case in cooperation with District Attorney Dan Armstrong’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 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.

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