RALEIGH -- A Wilkes County man pleaded guilty Monday, Jan. 13, 2003, in Wake County District Court to felony tax charges filed by the North Carolina Department of Revenue.

Thomas Gregory Williams, 55, of 2170 Hawthorn Lane, North Wilkesboro, entered guilty pleas to one count each of attempting to evade or defeat the North Carolina and Wilkes County sales tax. Williams was the President and the responsible corporate officer of Williams Jewelry & Gifts, Inc., which is located at 85 Boone Trail in North Wilkesboro.

District Court Judge Jan Gray sentenced Williams to a six-month minimum, eight-month maximum sentence. The sentence was suspended and he was placed on supervised probation for 36 months. As a special condition of probation, Williams was placed on intensive probation for the first 12 months of his probation. He was further ordered to pay a $3,000 criminal fine and to complete 100 hours of community service. Williams was also required to timely file and remit all personal and business taxes due while on probation.

The charges against Williams resulted from an investigation by a revenue officer in the Department of Revenue's North Wilkesboro Revenue Office and a special agent with the Department's Criminal Investigations Division.

Last modified on: 10/31/07 03:43:48 PM.