Chicago —(ENEWSPF)—January 22, 2016. Attorney General Lisa Madigan yesterday announced the indictment of a Willowbrook tobacco store manager for allegedly defrauding the state out of more than $200,000 by underreporting nearly $3 million in sales.
Abdullah Dahleh, 35, of Oak Lawn was charged with 45 felony counts, including one count of sales tax evasion over $100,000, a Class 1 felony punishable by up to four to 15 years with the Illinois Department of Corrections. Dahleh was also charged with one count of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud, 38 counts of filing a fraudulent sales and use tax return, and three counts of filing a fraudulent income tax return.
Dahleh is the manager of Outlet Tobacco Inc., doing business as Tobacco Outlet Cigarettes, Cigars & More in Willowbrook. He is accused of underreporting more than $2.79 million in sales to the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR), resulting in a loss of $202,508.31 to the state.
“We will continue to make sure that individuals who violate state tax laws are held accountable,” said Madigan.
Dahleh’s bond was set at $200,000.
“The Department of Revenue is committed to investigating allegations of cigarette fraud that deprive our State and local government of critically needed tax dollars,” said Connie Beard, Director of Revenue. “Through our collaboration with the Attorney General’s office, we are able to examine claims of financial crime and take aggressive legal action when warranted.”
The case was investigated by IDOR’s Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant Attorney General Victor Turla is handling the cases for Madigan’s Special Prosecutions Bureau.
The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Source: http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov
