The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to the arrest of 54 year old Michael Gene Cantrell on charges of sales tax evasion by filing false and fraudulent documents with the DeKalb County Clerk’s Office.
Cantrell, a former resident of DeKalb County, now resides in Jamestown.
On Nov. 29, 2010, Cantrell was indicted by a DeKalb County Grand Jury on three Class E felony counts of Sales Tax Evasion in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 67-1-1440. The indictment charges that between July 2003 and May 2007, Cantrell submitted false and fraudulent documents to the DeKalb County Clerk’s Office for the purpose of registering two vehicles and a boat. On Dec 3, 2010, Cantrell surrendered to Special Agents at the Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office. If convicted, Cantrell could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in the state penitentiary
and fined $3,000 for each of the three Class E felony counts.
“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 Charles Trost. “This investigation underscores the department’s ongoing efforts to enforce Tennessee’s tax laws.”
This case was pursued criminally by the department in cooperation with the District Attorney General Randy York. Commissioner Trost expressed his appreciation for the excellent cooperation the department has enjoyed with General York. Citizens who suspect violations of the Tennessee 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 91 percent of total state tax revenue. During the 2009-2010 fiscal year, the department collected $10.1 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 2009-2010 fiscal
year. In 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.
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