Local glass contractor arrested for stealing sales tax

By Carrie A. Mizell

A Gilchrist County glass contractor who specialized in selling and installing glass is now facing felony and misdemeanor charges that he stole more than $5,000 in sales tax.
Jeffrey Brian Turner, 49, of Branford, was arrested by the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office on April 19 on charges relating to theft of state funds and refusal to file tax returns.
Turner owns and operates The Glass Mechanix, which is located at 10410 NW 27th Terrace, Branford.
According to investigators from the Florida Department of Revenue, Turner allegedly collected sales tax from customers and failed to send in to the state.
If convicted, Turner faces up to five years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines, as well as possible repayment of stolen tax, interest and investigative costs.
According to investigators, Turner routinely collected tax from customers at his business.
However, during various periods beginning in January 2006 through October 2009, he failed to send in to the state all of the sales taxes that he had collected.
Investigators found that Turner had illegally kept sales tax money, which under state law, is the property of the state at the moment of collection.
“Most Florida businesses do an excellent job of meeting the state’s requirements for collecting and submitting sales tax, which pays for services Floridians need,” said Lisa Echeverri, executive director of the Florida Department of Revenue. “Individuals who collect tax, but don’t send it in are stealing taxpayer dollars and gaining an unfair financial advantage over honest businesses.”
The executive director of the Florida Department of Revenue continued, “It’s our job to ensure that Florida’s tax laws are administered fairly.”