RALEIGH – A Stokes County businessman pleaded guilty Wednesday in Wake County District Court to tax charges filed by the North Carolina Department of Revenue.

Donald C. Brinkley, 67, of 214 Summit Court, Unit 4, Walnut Cove, pleaded guilty on Jan. 26, 2005 to two counts of aiding or assisting in the attempt to evade or defeat North Carolina and Stokes County sales tax.

Wake County District Court Judge Paul Gessner sentenced Brinkley to a five-month minimum, six-month maximum prison term. The sentence was suspended and Brinkley was placed on probation for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay a $500 fine and court costs. Before his sentencing, Brinkley paid the full restitution of $32,200.08 to the North Carolina Department of Revenue.

An investigation by a special agent with the North Carolina Department of Revenue found that Brinkley, the responsible corporate officer of Brinkley Manufacturing, Inc., charged and collected $35,140.58 in North Carolina and Stokes County sales tax from Oct. 1, 1996 through June 30, 2004, but failed to remit $32,200.08 of that amount to the Department of Revenue.

The charges against Brinkley resulted from an investigation by an auditor with the Department’s Winston-Salem Examination Division and a special agent with the Department’s Criminal Investigations Division in Raleigh.

Last modified on: 10/31/07 03:43:54 PM .