Old Orchard Beach Man Convicted For Stealing Sales Tax

October 27, 2011

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced that Dennis Caris, 54, of Old Orchard Beach was convicted on all counts in a four count indictment charging him with felony Theft by Misapplication of Sales Tax, along with Failure to Truthfully Collect, Account, and Pay Over Sales Tax, all occurring from January 2007 to October 2009.

York County Superior Court Justice William Brodrick sentenced Caris to two years in jail, with all but four months suspended and three years of probation. Caris was ordered to pay $35,860 in tax and interest, which represents the sales tax money Caris stole, along with sales tax money that Caris had collected this past summer, but also failed to pay over.

Caris ran The Caris Landings by the Sea, a family owned motel and inn in Old Orchard Beach. Caris failed to respond to numerous administrative efforts by Maine Revenue Services to pay over the tax money he was collecting from customers.

Caris was convicted in 1991 of felony bad check writing.

?Individuals who run businesses are entrusted with the collection of state taxes to be paid over to the state,? said Attorney General Schneider. ?We will continue to work with Maine Revenue Services to pursue and prosecute anyone who steals tax money.?

This case was investigated by the Maine Revenue Services? Criminal Investigations Unit. Assistant Attorney General Gregg D. Bernstein handled this matter for Attorney General Schneider?s Financial Crimes and Civil Rights Division.