NASHVILLE, Tenn. – February 22, 2024 – The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to Richard Davis, former partner of multiple middle Tennessee Pie Five restaurants, pleading guilty to theft and tax evasion Thursday.
Judge Cheryl Blackburn accepted Davis’ guilty plea to theft and tax evasion stemming from Davis’ failure to remit sales tax collected from customers. Blackburn sentenced Davis to 10 years of probation. She ordered him to pay restitution of $474,785.11.
“It is a felony for retailers to collect sales tax from the public and then fail to remit it to the state,” Revenue Commissioner David Gerregano said.” It is a breach of the public trust, and the Department of Revenue will never quit pursuing criminal sanctions to provide accountability for these actions.”
The department pursued this criminal case in cooperation with District Attorney Glenn Funk’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 2023 fiscal year, it collected nearly $22 billion in state taxes and fees and more than $4.7 billion in taxes and fees for local governments. To learn more about the department, visit www.tn.gov/revenue.
Source: Dept. of Revenue
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