2008 News Releases
For Immediate Release: February 12, 2008
NASHVILLE BUSINESSMAN SURRENDERS ON SALES TAX EVASION CHARGES
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Department of Revenue's Special Investigations Section conducted the investigation that led to the indictment and surrender of Shadi Mahmoud Eltiti on sales tax and theft of property charges. On Feb. 12, 2008, Eltiti, former partner and manager of E-Z Stop Market T. T. located at 5304 Charlotte Avenue in Nashville, Tenn., surrendered to the booking office of the Metro-Nashville Police Department. Bond was set at $25,000.
On Feb. 8, 2008, Eltiti was indicted by a Davidson County Grand Jury on 10 Class E felony counts of Sales Tax Evasion in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 67-1-1440(g) and one Class B felony count of theft over $60,000 in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 39-14-103. According to the indictments, Eltiti failed to declare taxable sales of $1,108,143.66 and failed to remit $97,677.82 in sales tax collected from Nov. 1, 2003 through Aug. 31, 2004. If convicted, Eltiti could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in the state penitentiary and fined $3,000 for each Class E felony count and up to 12 years in the state penitentiary and fined $25,000 for the Class B felony count. Additionally, civil taxes, penalties and interest will be due the state.
"The Department of Revenue promotes voluntary taxpayer compliance by educating taxpayers, aggressively pursuing criminal sanctions and demanding accountability when taxpayers engage in fraudulent activity," said Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr. "This investigation underscores our department's ongoing efforts to enforce Tennessee's tax laws."
This case was pursued criminally by the department in cooperation with Davidson County District Attorney General Victor S. Johnson'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 established by the legislature and the collection of taxes and fees associated with those laws. The Department of Revenue collects approximately 92 percent of total state tax revenue. During the 2006-2007 fiscal year, the department collected $11 billion in state taxes and fees. In addition to collecting state taxes, $1.9 billion of local sales tax was collected by the department for local governments during the 2006-2007 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.TN.gov/revenue.
###
