South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) agents arrested a Lexington County restaurant owner on Friday and charged him with two counts of tax evasion and one count of operating a business without a state Retail License.
Donald Herbert Prevette, 62, of West Columbia, was the owner of Olde Country Buffet in Lexington County. According to arrest warrants, Prevette reported gross sales of $21,838 during a 7-month period in 2022 and 2023, but actual sales totaled $280,874. As a result, he evaded approximately $19,612 in state Sales Tax.
Prevette's Retail License was revoked by the SCDOR in April 2022. But according to the warrant, he continued to operate his restaurant without a license even after repeated written and verbal warnings from SCDOR revenue officers.
If convicted, Prevette faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison and/or a fine of $10,000 for each count of tax evasion, and 30 days in jail and/or a fine of $200 for operating without a Retail License.
The SCDOR is committed to the fair administration of tax laws. By taking enforcement action against noncompliant taxpayers, the Department seeks to prevent unfairly increasing the tax burden on those who do comply.
If you suspect or know of anyone or a business that has committed a state tax crime, such as tax evasion or tax fraud, contact SCDOR Criminal Investigation and submit a Tax Violation Complaint Form (CID-27) to FraudAdvisor@dor.sc.gov or mail it to:
South Carolina Department of Revenue
Attn: Fraud Advisor
2070 Northbrook Blvd, Suite B7
North Charleston, SC 29406
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