Mississippi jewelry store owner indicted on tax evasion charges

By JCK Online Staff -- JCK Online, 4/14/2006 10:14:00 AM

A Clinton, Miss., jewelry store owner and his wife have been indicted on felony state tax evasion charges, The Associated Press reports.

Jon D. Lenoir, owner of Lenoir Jewellers of Clinton, was indicted by a Hinds County grand jury on four counts of Mississippi sales tax evasion for 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003, Mississippi Tax Commission officials told the AP.

Lenoir's wife, Deborah, also was indicted by a grand jury on four counts of Mississippi income tax evasion, the AP reports.

Each is free on $2,500 bonds, authorities reportedly said.

The indictment reportedly charges that Lenoir concealed the receipt of sales from Lenoir Jewellers by depositing the money into a personal checking account and converting sales tax trust fund money to his personal use.

The indictment reportedly says the Lenoir knowingly filed false sales tax returns during the period and charges him with an underpayment of $98,331 in sales tax for Jan. 1, 2000, through Dec. 31, 2003, the AP reports. The count for tax year 2000 charges the Lenoirs with tax evasion by reporting false net operating loss from business activities of Lenoir Jewellers.

The remaining three counts charge the Lenoirs with tax evasion through concealment by not reporting income tax returns for 2001, 2002, and 2003, years for which they had known taxable income. The total income tax liability for the period of evasion is $45,842, the indictment reportedly said.