HAMILTON COUNTY BUSINESSMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO INTERFERING WITH
A REVENUE OFFICER IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTY

REVENUE INVESTIGATION LEADS TO PLEA

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Department of Revenue's Special Investigations Section conducted the investigation that led to Robert Scott Sergeant pleading guilty in Hamilton County Criminal Court to one felony count of obstructing a Revenue officer in the performance of his duty. The Revenue officer was in the process of seizing a motor vehicle when the incident occurred. On April 11, Sergeant, treasurer of Donna's Rent-A-Car, was sentenced to two years unsupervised probation and 10 days of community service.

Sergeant was indicted by the Hamilton County Grand Jury on Jan. 26, 2006, on one count of interfering with a Revenue officer. The indictment charged Sergeant knowingly and intentionally attempted to obstruct, delay, hinder, impede or intimidate a Revenue officer from performing his duties.

The department's Special Investigations Section serves as the primary criminal tax enforcement arm of the commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Revenue. The Department of Revenue reminds citizens who suspect violations of the Tennessee revenue laws should call the toll-free tax fraud hot line at (800) FRAUDTX (372-8389).

These cases are pursued criminally by the department in cooperation with local district attorneys general.

The Department of Revenue collects approximately 92 percent of total state tax revenue. During the 2004-2005 fiscal year, the department collected $9.6 billion in state taxes and fees. In addition to collecting state taxes, $1.7 billion of local sales tax was collected by the department for local governments during the 2004-2005 fiscal year. Besides collecting taxes, the department enforces the revenue laws fairly and impartially in an effort to encourage voluntary taxpayer compliance. The department also apportions revenue collections for distribution to the various state funds and local units of government. To learn more about the department, log on to www.Tennessee.gov/revenue.

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