Former Knox County Businessman Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion and Theft

KNOXVILLE  - The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to today’s guilty plea of Chris Yousif, former managing member of Quality Motors, for tax evasion and theft.

Judge Bob McGee accepted Yousif’s guilty plea to five counts of sales tax evasion and one count of theft over $10,000. Judge McGee placed Yousif on 16 years of probation and ordered him to pay $108,984.99 in restitution to the State of Tennessee.

“Investigations such as this one should warn retailers that fraudulently failing to remit all sales tax monies collected is a crime,” Revenue Commissioner David Gerregano said. “The taxes collected from customers are at all times property of the state and local governments. Customers have a right to know that the tax they pay is going to be remitted and used for the public good of all Tennesseans.”

The Department is pursuing this criminal case in cooperation with District Attorney Charme Allen’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, as well as the collection of taxes and fees associated with those laws. The Department collects about 87 percent of total state revenue. During the 2018 fiscal year, it collected $14.5 billion in state taxes and fees and more than $2.8 billion in taxes and fees for local governments. To learn more about the Department, visit www.tn.gov/revenue.

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