Smyrna BBQ restaurant owner indicted on charges of tax evasion
The owner of a Smyrna barbecue restaurant has been indicted on charges of felony tax evasion, according to a spokesperson from the Tennessee Department of Revenue.
On Sept. 8, the Rutherford County Grand Jury indicted Kinfolks BBQ owner Scharneitha Britton on one felony charge of theft over $60,000 and 13 counts of money laundering, both Class B felonies, and 36 felony counts of tax evasion.
Agents from the Special Investigations Section of the TDR conducted the investigation that led to the indictment. TDR agents arrested Britton Monday. A bond was set at $25,000.
The indictments allege Britton underreported taxable sales and failed to remit additional sales tax collected from Kinfolks BBQ, which Britton opened in 2013 at 1203 Hazelwood Drive in Smyrna.
“Investigations, such as this one, should warn retailers that failing to properly remit all the sales tax monies they collect is a crime,” Revenue Commissioner David Gerregano said in an email. “The taxes collected from customers are property of the state and local governments at all times. Customers have a right to know that the tax they pay will be remitted to the state.”
If convicted, 66-year-old Britton could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in the state penitentiary and fined up to $3,000 for each count of tax evasion, and 12 years and fined up to $25,000 for money laundering and theft.
The department is pursuing this criminal case in cooperation with District Attorney Jennings Jones’ office.
Citizens who suspect violations of Tennessee's revenue laws should call the toll[1]free tax fraud hot line at 800-372-8389 or visit tn.gov/revenue.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Kinfolks BBQ restaurant owner indicted on charges of tax evasion
