Rutherford County Man Sentenced for Sales Tax Evasion

MURFREESBORO - Shashank Patel, 29, president of Super Discount Tobacco and Beer in Murfreesboro, pleaded no contest to one count of sales tax evasion.

On April 28, Rutherford County Judge David Bragg accepted Patel’s plea agreement and sentenced him to three years of probation. Judge Bragg ordered Patel to pay $53,926.96 in restitution to the Department of Revenue. The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to Patel’s plea and sentencing. 

“This investigation serves as a reminder that retailers are not entitled to use or keep sales tax monies,” Revenue Commissioner Richard Roberts said. “Sales tax revenues collected by retailers are never property of the retailer. At all times, these sales tax collections are property of our state and local governments, and they must be remitted to the state as required by law. Consumers who pay the tax deserve to know that the money will be used by the state and local governments for the common good."

The Department pursued this criminal case in cooperation with District Attorney Jennings Jones 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). To learn more about the Department, visit www.tn.gov/revenue.

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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