Former Lawrence County Clerk Employee Pleads Guilty to Tax Charges

LAWRENCEBURG, Tenn. - The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to Lee Ann Patterson pleading guilty to tax evasion.

This week, Judge J. Russell Parkes accepted Patterson’s guilty plea to one count of tax evasion stemming from her fraudulent vehicle registration at the Lawrence County Clerk’s Office. Patterson’s sentencing hearing is on April 23, 2026.

“The Department of Revenue strives to promote voluntary compliance of Tennessee’s tax laws by education taxpayers and pursuing criminal sanctions for accountability of fraudulent actors,” Revenue Commissioner David Gerregano said. “This guilty plea underscores the department’s efforts to ensure fair administration of Tennessee’s tax laws.”

The department pursued this criminal case in cooperation with General Brent Cooper’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 around 87 percent of total state revenue. During the 2025 fiscal year, it collected over $21 billion in state taxes and fees and more than $5 billion in taxes and fees for local governments. To learn more about the department, visit www.tn.gov/revenue .

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