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

Mark C. Fowler, 50, of 804 Knottinghill Walk, Apex pleaded guilty on Nov. 15, 2004 to two counts of attempting to evade or defeat state and local sales taxes.

Wake County District Court Judge Craig Croom sentenced Fowler to two, consecutive six-month minimum, eight-month maximum prison terms. The sentence was suspended and Fowler was placed on supervised probation for 36 months. He was ordered to pay restitution of $29,267, perform 100 hours of community service and pay a $500 criminal fine. He was also ordered to pay $20,000 of the restitution within one week.

The state’s evidence showed that Fowler, as owner and operator of Mark Fowler Photography charged, collected and misapplied North Carolina and Wake County sales taxes from Jan. 1, 2000 through Jan. 31, 2004. Mark Fowler Photography is located at 2425 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary.

The charges against Fowler resulted from an investigation by the Department’s Raleigh Field Examinations Office and a special agent with the Department’s Criminal Investigations Division.

Last modified on: 10/31/07 03:44:10 PM .